Overdue life update

My sincere apologies to anyone who has come onto this website looking for updates this last year. Some long overdue updates to this site will be coming soon, but below is an update on what my first season as a fully professional collaborator and coach has looked like for me!

This past fall I was honored to be the pianist for the premiere performance of Kay Rhie’s new opera “Quake” at UCLA. The piece was a challenging and creative work, and I greatly enjoyed getting to work with Rakefet, Peter, and all the incredible singers at UCLA. I look forward to returning this upcoming fall to coach and play for a new cast which will be performing the full work with orchestra in spring of ‘23.

Also at UCLA, I was offered a lecturer position and in that capacity coached singers in preparation of their performance of Stravinsky’s “The Rake’s Progress”. Although the final production was somewhat delayed due to Omicron, it was inspiring to see how well the final product came together. A special shout-out to Finn Sagal for his stunning portrayal of Nick Shadow and to Peter Kazaras whose inspired staging brought this challenging work to life in a thoroughly impactful and entertaining way.

A true double agent, I have also been working at USC (scandalous I know). Last fall, I stepped in last minute to play continuo for their production of Gluck’s “Orfeo Ed Euridice”. That work has been on my bucket list since undergraduate and I so enjoyed finally having the opportunity to perform the work with a full cast and orchestra.

Without a doubt the most intense job I have held this year has been as coach, pianist, and assistant director for the American premiere of Uljas Pulkiss’s “All the Truths We Cannot See: A Chernobyl Story”. I began coaching the cast members on this profoundly challenging work last fall, and quickly realized what a daunting task it would be for music staff and cast alike. When the directorial staff left the country to lead the European premiere of the work, I took over leading the US cast in coachings and rehearsals. I am genuinely impressed and inspired at the work that all of them put in to pulling the work together and having the piece fully prepared when the directors returned. We are currently in our final rehearsal stage, and I can’t wait to play with this incredible group of singers (as well as the most impressive pit orchestra I’ve ever worked with!) for the upcoming performances of this work.

I have also been working as coach and pianist at California State University in Fullerton, where most notably I recently performed a concert of American art songs with their new opera director, Kerry Jennings.

In addition to my university work, I have also been teaching both as a freelancer and through Cornerstone Music Academy as well as directing worship at All Saints Lutheran Church in Sun Valley.

This upcoming summer; after a much needed vacation that will include reconnecting with undergraduate friends, snorkeling with manta rays, and swimming with dolphins, I will be playing with the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival for their performance of Offenbach’s “Orpheus in the Underworld.”

That’s all for now, happy spring and keep the music alive!