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On being an artist (in a bikini)
The work of an artist is an internal reckoning. What they produce is a mere artifact of the process. An artist is always curious, experimenting. Like a scientist, but with unstable variables that produce inconsistent results. And the results we are after are thoughts and feelings. Read more
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[videos] CPE Bach (II), Holst (III), memory slip
From my recital last week in Denton, TX… II. Un poco Andante From Concerto in D Minor by CPE Bach Steven Harlos, piano This was my very favorite thing to play on the program. I felt so free and expressive. III. Allegro From A Fugal Concerto by Gustav Holst, originally for flute, oboe, and strings Natasha Costello, fluteSteven Harlos, piano I liked this piece when I first found it, but it really grew on me as we rehearsed it together. Memory slip For the program, my concept was to create an arc of musical styles branching out from this solo… Read more
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Two summer recitals
I’m doing my (now) annual recitals again in Denton, TX and Honolulu, HI. This is definitely the most musically challenging thing I do each year. I’m so glad I started doing recitals. Once I stopped taking quite so many auditions, I was still performing, but I missed the intense pressure of auditions, which forces me do a lot of self-reflection and growth. The program is a survey of the lasting influence of the Baroque era, with music by Sardelli, CPE Bach, JS Bach/Vivaldi in the style of Brazilian choro, Bolling. Denton, TX Date/time: Friday, July 19, 2024 at 5PM Location:… Read more
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[audition #30] The 30th time is not the charm
…far from it. This was the first time I’ve showed up to an audition with the completely wrong list prepared. Obviously, the exact circumstances were different, but it made me imagine what Maria João Pires might have experienced when she sat down to perform a Mozart concerto, but had prepared the wrong one. In my case, when they posted the 1st round list, there was an initial moment of disorientation and confusion, followed by comprehension, then a sinking feeling. I had prepared only one of the excerpts asked in the 1st round, and I didn’t have the music for most… Read more
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[musical storytelling] Peter & the Wolf
We were asked to do a short musical presentation for the 2nd graders at our kids’ school for a unit on self-expression. It was one of those opportunities where we could either throw something together with music we already knew, OR go all the way and make it a whole thing. Clearly, I went for the latter choice! Some time ago, we were gifted a beautiful storybook of the story of Peter and the Wolf. Ever since I rediscovered it on the bookshelf a few months ago, I thought it would really cool to do a musical project with the… Read more
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Powerpuff Girls intro ft. The Pan-Tones
A venture into simple animation… I came up with this idea because I was working on a t-shirt design for The Pan-Tones (available soon!). I was looking up trios, and came up with The Powerpuff Girls, which is a show I watched quite a bit growing up. The epiphany came when I realized I could keep the signature poses of the PPGs and ADD FLUTES IN THEIR HANDS! I think I actually laughed out loud to myself when I realized this. It’s the perfect “concoction” of nerdy and cool. I started working with Final Cut during the pandemic days, when… Read more
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[rep duet + caesura] Andalouse
Here’s the last of this round of arrangements from the 24 Short Concert Pieces book. Perhaps I will come back later to this book and do a few more of my favorites (or any specific requests- let me know!). Caesura (pause) May is looking like it is going to be full… 5/3 Second grade “tour” at Newton Rayzor5/12 Mother’s Day Concert with Allen Philharmonic5/25 The Pan-Tones at Denton Community Market5/30-31 Anticipated audition, pending invitation I’m very thankful for these times when I can fill my time with musical activities. I’ve been stepping away from social media and computer work more,… Read more
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[rep duet + new free downloads] Godard, Idylle
I was thinking of doing this next movement of Godard’s suite, and a personal request helped me commit to it. The accompaniment on this duet is significantly more challenging than other solos of this level, because I wanted to preserve the texture of cascading 16th notes from the original. It was a fun theory challenge to find the voicing of the chord that would line up best with the melody, while also communicating the harmonic motion. Please contact me to purchase this duet arrangement ($15). New free downloads I’ve recently uploaded several new free downloads, which are materials for excerpt… Read more
