My work as a musician involves a range of things. These include all the things most musicians do: performing, writing, recording. Like most musicians I do what I do in a particular way, which is to say differently than other musicians (just as other musicians do things differently than me). This site defines those differences.

I've spent time in school working on the art and craft of becoming a better writer and performer and have written for and performed with a number of different types of people: dancers, theatre types, various classical ensembles from solo trombone to full orchestra, rock bands and jazz musicians.

I went the jazz college route as soon as I left high school. I followed this with an undergrad in composition which led to a composer-in- residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts where I wrote music for the 49th Parallel: Barrier as Corridor, a documentary film aired on PBS in the United States. My time in Banff inspired me to continue studying and I wound up with a Masters in composition.

I continued to be involved professionally as a musician, playing in an awful lot of bands, from country to avante-garde. Highlights include writing for the Hammerhead consort, The Penderecki Quartet and writing for and performing with the Brian Webb Dance Company. The NOWage Orchestra, a music/theatre (but not musical theatre) group which I wrote for and played in, was a ground-breaking septet involving voice, guitar, piano, trumpet, sax, trombone, and percussion, exploring and interpreting music ranging from Gyorgy Ligeti to Tom Waits. In 2004, trombonist Ken Read and I created and performed a largely improvised score inspired by 1929 German expressionist film Gollem which we performed for Metro Cinema. My latest project is Chamber Graffiti, a collective of composers, which released its first CD in 2006.

I am currently working on a doctorate in composition, exploring computer technology, and figuring out how to use music and sound to create a deeper awareness of the nature of urban spaces and the different types of relationships that are found there.

AWARDS, COMMISSIONS, RECORDINGS

Private Commission , 2009
Commissioned to write 10 minute piece for ancient instruments

Canada Council Alberta Creative Initiatives Development Grant, 2008
Support for composition of dance music for The Brian Webb Dance Company

Edmonton Arts Council Edmonton Artists Trust Fund Award, 2008
Support for composition of chamber piece and the recording of two separate
Projects

Private Commission , 2008
Commissioned to write 15 minute piece for two sackbut quartets, harpsichord, and cello

Commission – Alberta Foundation for the Arts, 2008
Commissioned to write 12 minute piece for solo trombone, loopstation and electronic effects

Commission – Edmonton Arts Council Lee Fund Award, 2007
Commissioned to write and 18 minute piece for The Ritchie Trombone Choir

Recording – Arkatzi, 2007
Compact disc recording of original jazz/electronica compositions

Commission – Alberta Foundation for the Arts, 2006
Commissioned to compose a string quartet

Recording – Chamber Graffiti (jazz), 2005
Compact disc recording of original jazz compositions

Commission – Tania Alvaredo, 2003
Commissioned to compose 45 minutes of music for dance

Commission – Alberta Foundation for the Arts, 2003
Commissioned to compose a solo percussion piece

Recording – Phagoo (rock)
Compact disc recording of original music for alternative rock band

Commission – Alberta Foundation for the Arts, 2002
Commissioned to compose a solo piano piece

Commission - Brian Webb Dance Company, 2001
Commissioned to compose an hour of music for dance

Commission - Edmonton Composers Concert Society, 2000
Commissioned to compose a 10 minute piece for chamber ensemble.

Recording - Penderecki Quartet, 2000
Compact disc recording of string quartet In Medias Res

Edmonton Arts Council Artist Trust Fund Award, 1998
One of first recipients of new award for developing local professional talent;
produced String of Knots for septet as well as three pieces for jazz quartet.

Commission – Alberta Foundation for the Arts, 1998
Awarded for the commission of a new piece for the NOWAge Orchestra

Private Commission – Ken Read, 1997
Commissioned to compose a piece for solo bass trombone

Charles Muttart Scholarship, Banff Centre for the Arts, 1992
Supported a period of residency at The Banff Centre for the Arts for selected artists.