This past year has been full of contrasts, and I wanted to share two musical moments that feel especially dear to me.
Back in July, the wonderful Galan Trio performed my piece syneche at the Mikrotöne – Small is Beautiful festival in Salzburg. This was the acoustic version of the piece—just piano, violin, and cello, without electronics—and although I couldn’t be there in person, I followed from afar with immense gratitude. To hear syneche come to life in a festival devoted to microtonal exploration felt right: the piece has always been about thresholds, about living in the cracks between stability and flux. The trio brought such clarity and intensity to the performance, reminding me once again how collaboration reshapes and renews the work.
Fast forward to December, and I’ll be heading to Chicago for the premiere of my newest piece with the Grossman Ensemble at the Logan Center for the Arts. The program, Form & Figure, opens their 2025–26 season, and I couldn’t be more excited. Conductor Micah Gleason leads premieres by composers Kay Rhie, Ryan Chase, Mikel Kuehn, and myself in a dynamic performance showcasing diverse and complex sonic worlds. For tickets and information => https://chicagopresents.uchicago.edu/concerts-and-events/grossman-ensemble-form-figure