Month: April 2015

I had the pleasure of attending the Las Vegas Philharmonic concert last night at the Smith Center with my friend composer Michael Torke. Under the direction of conductor Donato Cabrera, the concert featured pianist Joyce Yang who performed the Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, and two other pieces: John Adams’ The Chairman Dances (Foxtrot for Orchestra), and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64.

Before and after the concert, we grabbed drinks and snacks at Mundo restaurant. I had so much fun catching up with Michael, meeting pianist Joyce Yang and conductor Donato Cabrera for the first time, and also re-connecting with friends who played in the orchestra.
 
Photo with composer Michael Torke

Photo with Donato Cabrera, Michael Torke, and Joyce Yang

Photo with friend Hanna Suk-hyrushchenko,
violist in the Las Vegas Philharmonic

The UNLV Jazz Ensemble 1 gave a beautiful performance of my composition Seattle Skies at the jazz ensemble concert April 22, 2015 in the Black Box Theatre at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The concert also featured UNLV trumpet artist Allen Vizzutti who played with all three UNLV jazz ensembles that evening. I was very happy to have the opportunity to conduct my piece that evening, and grateful to receive such positive responses after the performance. I will post a video recording soon, but in the meantime, here are some photos from the concert!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo with Allen Vizzutti after the show:

Photo with composer Michael Torke after the show:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo with the soprano saxophone soloist on my piece, Carlos Mata-Alvarez

Today, I finally finished my new composition Bordello Nights for wind orchestra featuring a small jazz ensemble (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, piano, bass, and drums). The piece was commissioned by Tom Leslie for a premiere by the UNLV wind orchestra (University of Nevada, Las Vegas.) I’m very excited to introduce the piece at the wind orchestra readings in a couple of weeks!

On Wednesday April 8th at 8PM, the Eastman New Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Dave Rivello premiered new big band piece Seattle Skies along with a revised version of my first big band piece Overdrive. This version of Seattle Skies is scored for woodwind doublings and features Colin Gordon on soprano saxophone. I wish I could have been there to hear the performances live – they did an amazing job!

Tonight at 7PM, the Lviv Philharmonic Academic Symphony Orchestra in the Ukraine will be performing my orchestra piece Tone Poems of Ethereality under the direction of Taras Krysa. I wish I could be there to see/hear what I’m sure will be a wonderful performance!