Arizona Friends of Chamber Music Commissioner’s Circle

arizona friend of chamber musicArizona Friends of Chamber Music has created the Commissioner’s Circle for our audience members who wish to sponsor new chamber works with us.

Participation gives you the thrill of making a significant contribution to the creation of important new chamber music and of influencing what will be composed in the 21st century.

I am honoured to be part of the group and you can visit the site to read about the program. Here is a link to a review of a concert featuring my Sonata for Piano Four Hands that was commissioned as part of this initiative.

A Princely performance

WWQinOttawa

This is a picture of the woodwind quintet from the Regina Symphony Orchestra playing for a dinner at which Prince Charles and Camilla were present (as well as the Governor General and Prime Minister). As the Prince is the patron of the Regina Symphony but was unable to come to Regina on his November, 2009 Canadian visit, the RSO sent us as representatives.

I was asked to write a piece for the quintet to play especially for the Prince and I responded with a short work that celebrated the Royal visit and paid homage to several of the things about England that we hold dear. The piece is called Big Ben.

I also wrote a fanfare for the entrance of the principal guests.

St. Lawrence String Quartet’s 20th Anniversary Commissioning Project.

I have been asked to represent the Canadian prairies in this incredible project. Here is an excerpt from the email I received:

“It gives us great pleasure to invite you to represent the Canadian Prairies in composing an 8-10 minute work (for string quartet alone) commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the St. Lawrence String Quartet.

It would be an honour to include your composition in our anniversary celebration.”

I will be working throughout the summer months as the Prairie debut will be in early October 2008. Please check back often as I will be posting updates on the progress and news of the actual events.