I have been a composer, clarinetist, conductor, and music educator (University of Washington, Seattle University, Western Washington University and others), as well as artistic director, and concert organizer in the Puget Sound area for universities and artistic organizations for over thirty years.  I was co-artistic director with Sarah Bassingthwaighte in Seattle for CCCP (Contemporary Composers and Chamber Players) and then Affinity, a group made up of composers and performers dedicated to creating new music from within its own ranks as well as promoting, performing and commissioning new works both locally and from around the country.  I studied with Dr. Richard Karpen at the University of Washington while earning my Doctor of Musical Arts degree, and my admiration for Richard cannot be overstated.

 

While my music has been performed locally, nationally, and internationally, I am most interested in cultivating an exciting local contemporary music culture in the South Puget Sound area.  I am of the opinion that modern music can be interesting, provocative, and beautiful.  Intellectualism and pretention is boring.  We as composers need to make music fun without compromising artistic integrity.  My latest interests in this regard include discovering new ways to create audience involvement, and including elements of motion in my music, whether by musicians or the audience or both.  I also look forward to collaborative artistic projects with artists outside my own experience such as choreographers and dancers, or experts in multimedia such as lights or film.

 

I have recently moved from Seattle to Fircrest in the Tacoma area, and am excited to become a part of the local community. I hope to add vibrancy and spark new interest in contemporary music.