Compositions
Song for mezzo-soprano and piano on a new poem by Reg Huston, commissioned by Susanne Mentzer and Reg Huston. First performance TBA
Solo piano movement commissioned by pianist Min Kwon and the Center for Musical Excellence as part of the “America The Beautiful Project: e pluribus unum” featuring variations on the anthem by 70 composers. First performance TBA.
Tarantella for solo cello commissioned by the Primavera Project for cellist Matt Haimovitz. First Performance TBA.
Song for high soprano to poetry by Emily Dickinson. Commissioned by pianist Jerry Wong as an anniversary gift to his wife, soprano Melissa Davis. First Performance TBA
Two poems by Emily Dickinson set for high soprano. Commissioned by Nightingale Opera Theatre for soprano Melissa Davis and pianist Jerry Wong. First Performance TBA 1. The first Day’s Night had come 2. I heard a Fly buzz – when I died
Song cycle for mezzo-soprano and piano on new texts by Joyce DiDonato, Patti LuPone, Sister Helen Prejean, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Kathleen Kelly. Commissioned for mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton by the Tucson Desert Song Festival. First Performance: May 10, 2021 at the Tucson Desert Song Festival. Jame Barton, mezzo soprano; Jake Heggie, piano 1. Order (DiDonato) [more]
A 25-minute song cycle for baritone and piano, also for baritone and orchestra. New poetry by Margaret Atwood. Commissioned for baritone Joshua Hopkins by the Houston Grand Opera and Canada’s National Arts Centre. A 30-minute song cycle for baritone and piano, also for baritone and orchestra, featuring new poetry by Margaret Atwood. Commissioned for baritone [more]
One or more recordings have been made.
A 40-minute song cycle for mezzo-soprano, solo violin, string quartet and youth solo violin. Texts by Gene Scheer based on stories about violins played by Jews in concentration camps during the Holocaust; inspired by James Grymes’ book Violins of Hope: Violins of the Holocaust – Instruments of Hope and Liberation in Mankind’s Darkest Hour (Harper [more]
Full Circle 50 is a trio in four movements for flute, cello and piano commissioned to celebrate flutist Carol Wincenc’s Golden Anniversary year of performing. Generously underwritten by Elizabeth King, the work received its premiere on Nov 12, 2019 at the Morgan Library in New York City with flutist Carol Wincenc, cellist Brook Speltz and [more]
“…bright and superbly evocative music … with arching melodies that settle into shimmeringly sunny harmonies.”“…a work of inventiveness and expressive urgency… richly textured with a lush overlay atop brisk, tautly structured rhythms.”San Francisco Chronicle (Joshua Kosman) “…a breakneck pace of dramatic intrigue and aural pleasure …a libretto of wickedness, wit and wisdom”“Jake Heggie & Gene [more]