It's amazing how, even after being pretty much stuck in my house for a week, I didn't get any work done... then as soon as I was busy with other things, I get a lot of composition work done.

-I finished my first full draft of Four Poems. It needs a little editing, but I need to spend some time away from it to be able to look at it with a more critical eye. I'm really excited about it!

-I've started, and am about a third of the way through, my new opera about Jezebel. I think I'm going to name it The Name on the Door, but I haven't for sure decided on that yet.

-I made a concert ending to John's aria from Magnum Opus, "I'm just worried about you, Claire." It's actually almost a minute longer with this ending.

I'm also working on putting together a recital for Spring with my friends Roc and Kyle. Hopefully all or part of Four Poems and The Name on the Door will be on the program. I just need to find a good, free venue... any ideas?
1 Comment
 
 
So, Magnum Opus was performed at the Kennedy Center. It doesn't get much cooler than that. It went really well- everyone performed well, the room was packed, and everyone seemed to really like it.

But... I'm pretty much Magnum'd out now. Time for some new stuff!

My children's musical is almost done... one more song to write, and then it's on to orchestration.

Next I'm moving to the instrumental world for a while- finishing up my orchestral piece, and writing a few more chamber pieces to go with Haiku. (That one needs a little editing, too...)

After that, I'm moving on to some new operas! More details about these to come... but I'm working with somereally great people. My friends Peter and Maria are each writing me libretti.

Whew, ok, back to work for me!
1 Comment
 
Summer, con't. 08/05/2009
 
Wow. So, Magnum Opus went really well in the Fringe Festival. Read the reviews that I have on the Magnum Opus page! I'm so proud of the production staff, singers, musicians, and well, yeah, myself. We actually made money on the production after good houses most shows, and a sold-out, standing room only last show. My colleages and friends with their own shows in the Fringe Festival (Eli, Gregg, John, and Dr. Simpson) did really well, too. A highly successful Fringe Festival showcasing a lot of Catholic University's talents!

Magnum Opus isn't done though: it's going to be in the Page to Stage Festival at the Kennedy Center at 7:30pm on September 5. This time will be more of a staged reading, though. I'm very excited, though- an opera I wrote is being performed at the Kennedy Center!

The other news is my new children's musical. It's moving really slowly, unfortunately. It'll get done, though. I really need to step up my game to get a job and pick the doctoral programs to which I'll apply.

Oh, also, I've joined the City Choir of Washington. The first concert I'm singing with them is the score to the movie Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. We're singing with orchestra at Wolf Trap toward the end of this month. I'm excited about that- it's fun to sing in elvish, hah.
Add Comment
 
Summer so far... 06/13/2009
 

Work has been going pretty slowly this summer. I'm about a third of the way done orchestrating my new orchestral piece... which still doesn't have a name. I need to think of something cool for it. But, either way, the work is taking longer than I expected it to.

I'm going to end up re-orchestrating Magnum Opus for the forces I end up with in the pit. I'm looking forward to having a different set of colors to work with.

I plan on starting work on my new children's musical commission in early July. That means I have to get the orchestra piece and Magnum Opus done before then. Yikes.

Lately I've been listening to a lot of Andrew Bird. Yes, it's not "classical" music, but I hope anyone would agree with me that he's very interesting and inventive. I don't want to talk about it too much, I think you should just give him a listen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dJcr1brx_Y

Let me know what you think!

Add Comment
 
I'm a master. 05/18/2009
 

I graduated on Saturday. It feels strange to finally be done with that degree- only one more. I'll be Dr. Oberhauser in four or five years. Yikes.

Now I'm home at my parents' house in Ohio for a week or so. It's nice to relax, see some old friends, and not have to worry about anything for a while.

So, I have some exciting stuff coming up this summer!
-Magnum Opus in the Fringe Festival
-Magnum Opus in the Page-to-Stage Festival
-writing music for a new children's musical

More information about the musical soon... but I will say that it's great to be working with my college friend, the amazing Sarah Portz! I'm really looking forward to this project. 

1 Comment
 
 

This post is gonna be a little short, just wanted to say a couple things real quick:

The performance of Haiku was last night, and it went pretty well. The musicians were Sophia Musleh on flute, Julian Rieder on percussion, and Daniel McCarthy on viola.

I'm working on a piece for full orchestra. So far I have about 2 minutes written in short score, which I'll orchestrate next week. I'm gonna work today and tomorrow to see if I can get a little more than 2 minutes... pretty sure I won't be reaching the goal of 8, though, by Monday.

I'm also working on other movements to accompany Haiku. I'll eventually have a handful of chamber pieces based on poetry forms. I'm probably going to include sonnet, free verse, and limerick. Nothing's set in stone yet, though- just ideas.

Also, big news: Magnum Opus is getting a second performance! It will be at the DC Fringe festival this summer. It's going to be produced by Opera Alterna. I'm so excited about this! Once I know the exact venue and dates I'll put them on here.

1 Comment
 
Post-Opus 02/17/2009
 

Well, Magnum Opus is done. I'm extremely happy with the production. The audience seemed to really like it, and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. If you'd like to see the recording of the 3:00pm performance on Sunday, February 15, click here.

Now I'm already working on my next projects... but I have some catch up to play on homework first. My new projects are expanding a work that I've already done for Joy of Motion Dance company from 2 minutes to 4 minutes; a 5 minute chamber piece for flute, viola, and percussion; and a symphonic concert opener that'll be approximately 8 minutes long. That's a lot of work for the next few weeks... I'll be as busy as ever.

Add Comment
 
 

So Fall Semester is over. I've gotten a lot of work done so far this year, but I still have a lot more to do. Magnum Opus is half orchestrated. I have most of my musicians and tech people lined up. The rehearsal schedule is pretty much done. Over the break I need to finish orchestrating, finish finding people I need to find, make parts for the musicians, make rehearsal scores for the singers, make a few full scores, and get spaces for all of the rehearsals.

Also while I'm home I plan to write something new. I don't know what for sure yet, but I just need to write something. I'm thinking of a few ideas... something for clarinet, violin, viola, cello, and piano, perhaps. Or maybe something for chorus. Or for full orchestra. Or maybe I'll start working up some ideas for my new big projects I have in mind. Either way, I want to create a good portfolio for my doctoral program applications.

I've decided that I'm not going for my doctorate right away next year. I need some time off from the academic world- hopefully I'll find a way to make money and still stay connected to the musical world while here in DC.

Well, that's it for today. Time to pack for my flight home!

Add Comment
 
 

I finally have a complete cast for Magnum Opus! I'm really excited about it. It's basically the cast of one of the opreras I music directed this past summer, plus one more baritone. It's even the same director as the other opera!

We had our first rehearsal tonight. I'm making a recording of scenes 5 and 9 to send in for a competition. Scene 5 involves Melpomene, Polyhymnia, and Robert, and scene 9 involves the same three plus Schumann. It was great to see everyone again, and the rehearsal went really well- I really like working with Amy, she's a great accompanist. I'm even more excited about this opera now than I was before today!

I put the cast list on the Magnum Opus page.

Add Comment
 
 

No theater yet for Magnum Opus, but I have most of the cast squared away. The auditions a few weeks ago didn't have the greatest turnout numbers wise, but everyone who did show up was impressively talented. There are just a few things to work out, and I'll have a cast.

My composition teacher, Andrew Earle Simpson, has been helping me make some improvements to Magnum Opus. I'm getting more and more excited for this project.

\'ve also written four children's musical theater songs for Puppetonia. I'm looking forward to my full-length children's musical with them!

Currently I'm working on the musical theater module for my Stage Music Practicum class. I was given a scene from the musical I Can Get It For You Wholesale, of which I'm not familiar. I had to compose new music for one of the songs ("A Funny Thing Happened"). I think the song turned out well. I'll let you know how the performance goes on Friday!

Add Comment