An audience of over 1,000 kids (and kids at heart) sang, laughed, and cheered for the San Diego Symphony and WindSync, who gave the world-premiere performance of my new piece, Space Junk, a Symphonic Children’s Story, on April 11, 2026. The project was two years in the making, and started when the WindSync team reached out to me looking for an alternative to their Peter and the Wolf arrangement. It just so happened San Diego Symphony was also looking for something new for young audiences. We all hopped on a zoom call and I shared Space Junk, a children’s story that I wrote ten years ago about a little star who gets covered in floating space debris, makes her way out, and turns the scattered junk into something beautiful. I had previously set this story to music for percussion, but the team agreed this was the story they were looking for, and asked me to create a new work for orchestra featuring WindSync. The piece features narration, theatrics, props, and audience participation including singing and clapping along (we got a group of 1,000 kids to sing and clap in rhythm!)

Every aspect of the project was cared for in such a detailed way by the musicians and SDSO admin team, and this all coincided with the Artemis II landing, which made the premiere even more magical. Thank you, Gerald Karni for your wonderful baton, Becky Joy Aitken for your beautiful illustrations, and everyone at WindSync and SDSO for bringing this project to life (Laura Reynolds and Stephen Salts in particular!) The score and part rentals will be available soon.

I’m am deeply honored to receive the 2024-2025 Teaching Excellence Award from The University of Texas at Austin’s Butler School of Music.

The school released an article about the award, which you can find here.

I’m thrilled to release Watercolor Sun, a marimba quartet for one shared 4.3 octave marimba. Commissioned by Grammy Award winning Third Coast Percussion, Watercolor Sun was premiered at the group’s PASIC 2023 showcase concert. Sheet music is now available. 

I have been friends with the members of Third Coast for many years and have watched them from afar with much admiration. It brings me great joy to write music for them.

I’m thrilled to officially publish Run to the Light, my new work for wind band! The piece is a university level / advanced high school piece that was commissioned by The Eastman Wind Ensemble for their centennial celebration. PDF score and parts can be purchased via my sheet music store. Physical copies are available via Murphy Music Press. I’ve been writing music for a long time, but the wind band space is new for me, and excited to share my sound and spirit with this community. Here’s an excerpt from UT Wind Ensemble’s latest performance, featuring my colleague, Thomas Burritt. 

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To my friends who teach young percussionists: I wrote an etude book for your students! “Music for the Young Percussionist” features 12 short pieces split between snare, mallets, timpani and multi / aux. The book was written with the early – late high school percussionist in mind. In the spirit of access and affordability, and as a thank you to the music education community, I’m making the book available through a “choose your price” model. Pay anywhere from $5 to $20, or whatever is doable for you or your students. Learn more about this project and pick up a copy HERE.