Last Saturday, June 11, The wonderful Quintet of the Americas performed my entire 4 movement work, Begin Again at the Queens New Music Festival. Led by the kind, understanding, and talented French Hornist, Barb Oldham, the players gave a spirited and deeply musical premier of the work.

The piece is 20 minutes long–the longest piece I’ve ever written. Granted it’s 4 movements, but pretty good for a guy who despaired that he might never compose again after a month-long coma after a cardiac arrest in 2014, hundreds of hours of a myriad of different kinds of therapies, and weeks trying to relearn the composing/engraving software I had once used professionally working for multiple music publishers.

When I contacted Barbara in 2020 about trying to complete the piece I had proposed to her and to the Queens Council on the Arts, she was so gracious and kind–telling me to take mt time and to know that she would be there, supporting me whenever I faltered. Everyone should have such people in their lives.

THANK YOU!