Programming is one of the most important things I do as a conductor; all of the experiences we have, all of the human interactions, all of the community-building – it all coalesces around the music we make together, and great art makes for life-altering experiences that change lives.

This year I am involved in a consortium that has commissioned Minnesota composer Shruthi Rajesekar to write a piece for concert band, and I am very excited to work on that piece!

Some of the other pieces I am looking forward to working on this year include:

Viet Cuong - Diamond Tide

Henry Dorn - Lacuna

Reena Esmail - Tuttarana

Julie Giroux - The Little Sparrow

JoAnne Harris - The Lighthouse

Wataru Hokoyama - Color of August

Cathy Likhuta - The Last Flight Out

Vincent Persichetti - Pageant

Alfred Reed - Russian Christmas Music

Omar Thomas - Mother of a Revolution

Satoshi Yagisawa - Fanfare Hayabusa

Music makes us laugh – it makes us cry – it makes us think, and reflect, and learn – but great music all has a reason for existing, and one should never come to the end of a piece of music quite the same person as they were at the beginning.

Minnesota Metro East Conference High School Honor Band - January 2026

Joshua Idio - Dark Side of the City

W. Francis McBeth - Chant and Jubilo

Steven Danyew - Amazing Grace

Michele Fernández - La Fiera Asturiana

Lamar University (TX) Honors Wind Symphony - March 2025

Katahj Copley - Dragonfly

Julie Giroux - The Little Sparrow

Michael Markowski - City Trees

Wataru Hokoyama - Color of August

Jayce Ogren - Symphonies of Gaia

Paul Cravens - Bounce!

Minnesota Symphonic Winds (guest conductor) - February 2025

Oscar Navarro - Downey Overture

Danielle Fisher - Feather

Katherine Bergman - Basswood Canopy

J.S. Bach, arr. Goldman/Leist - Fantasia in G Major

Kevin Charoensri - Rising Light

Kevin Duarte - Song for Mother Gaia

Eric Whitacre - Equus

Saint Paul (MN) Ordway Honors Festival 2023

Katahj Copley - Skyward Fanfare

Julie Giroux - The Bonsai Tree

Adrian Sims - Incandescence

Randall Standridge - Danse Carnivale

Minnesota All-State Concert Band 2024 - 2025

Kevin Charoensri - Regeneration

Julie Giroux - No Man’s Land

Michael Martin - Lontano Symphony, Mvt. III - “Horizons”

Minnesota Tri Metro All-Conference Honor Band - February 2024

Kevin Day - Rocketship

Dana Wilson - Odysseus and the Sirens

Frank Ticheli - Boundless River

Julie Giroux - Journey Through Orion

Bangkok International Band Festival, Thailand - September 2023

Katahj Copley - Halcyon Hearts

Samuel Hazo - Blue and Green Music

John Williams, arr. Vinson - Theme from Jurassic Park

Julie Giroux - Mambo Perro Loco

New music is so important to program – particularly music by composers from traditionally underrepresented groups.  I also believe deeply in programming great standard works that have stood the test of time – by having multiple time periods represented on our programs, we give context to the newer music, explore more styles and timbres, and are able to build a body of repertoire for the future.  A program is like a fine dining experience; every piece should have a different “flavor profile,” but all the music should come together to create a feast for the senses.