American Opera Projects will present "Judgment of Paris", a scene from my opera-in-progress, Mr. Hawthorne's Engagement, inspired by Megan Marshall's Pulitzer-Prize finalist, The Peabody Sisters. Librettist Elyssa East and I have focused on the secret love-triangle between the dashing and brooding Nathaniel Hawthorne and two of the Peabody Sisters: the spectacularly intellectual transcendentalist Elizabeth and talented painter Sophia, who is plagued by crippling migraines.
A group of excellent composers will also premiere opera scenes on both nights: Daniel Felsenfeld, The Bloody Chamber; George Lam, Someone Anyone; Caroline Mallonee, Jane Austen's Persuasion; Stephen Andrew Taylor, Paradises Lost; and Gregg Wramage, Death in Summer.
And the extraordinary singers and pianists:
Performances by: Caroline Worra, Amy Van Roekel, Abigail Fischer, Matthew Garrett, Gregory Gerbrandt, Chad Sloan, and Matthew Curran
Music direction and accompaniment by: Jennifer Peterson and Kelly Horsted
Composers & the Voice: 6 Scenes
South Oxford Space
138 S. Oxford St.
Brooklyn, NY
Tickets: $15 / $12 (students/seniors)
Call 718-398-4024 or email mgray@operaprojects.org to reserve seats.
The pulsoptional CD is available from the pulsoptional website for a mere $10!
Two chances to hear some of the songs that the six composers participating in the AOP Composers and the Voice workshops have composed (including three of my own songs.) Featuring singers from the American Opera Projects.
May 11 - 138 South Oxford St., Ft. Greene, Brooklyn
May 12 - The Hideaway Room at Helen's, 169 Eighth Avenue between 18th and 19th Streets
New York City, NY 10011
Labels: American Opera Projects, Composers and the Voice, First Glimpse
The long-awaited debut CD from pulsoptional is almost here! Please join pulsoptional at its CD release party at the Broad Street Cafe in Durham, NC the night of April 6. The CD includes a work of mine, How Terrible Orange. Additionally, I am the pianist on the CD.
I am thrilled to have an idyllic summer ahead of me. I'll spend the first part of the summer at the Aspen Music Festival and the month of August working on my opera at the Millay Colony. If you are in the Aspen area in early to mid July, please come hear performances of my music at the Festival. I will provide more information closer to the events.
My work, Soundscraper Fanfare, for brass quintet and percussion, commissioned by Tufts University, will recieve its premiere at the inaugural concert of the Granoff Music Center by The Innovata Brass and percussionist Bob Schulz. Other fanfares on the concert by: T.J. Anderson, Mark DeVoto, Felipe Lara and Max Newlands
Concert details: February 10, 8 PM. The
Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155
617 627 3564 (Tufts music department)
The Lawrence University Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Andy Mast, will premiere by new work Nervous Disorder this winter. Premiere postponed -- details TBA
This year, I am participating in a workshop series offered by the American Opera Projects in NYC. The series is entitiled "Composers & the Voice" and six composers work with six (fabulous!) singers to write and perform songs and an opera scene. In addition to composing, we develop a libretto. I am working with librettist Elyssa East.