My first publicly performed choral work was premiered by Maestro Brendan Harper and the Catholic University of America's Concert Choir during the CUA Spring 2024 Concert Choir and Orchestra Concert.
The program note reads:
Fierce, menacing material opens this piece, and the repeated "Alleluia," sometimes presented as fragmented syllables, becomes a dark, almost vicious anthem. The darkness seems total as the piece crashes into somber middle section where the first new text is presented. "Glory to your passion / long suffering, O Lord" contemplates the simultaneous since of awe and tragedy at the death of Jesus Christ, and staggered cadences emphasize the murky atmosphere. But suddenly, the "Alleluia" returns in major keys, and an unstoppable forward motion propels the piece to a finish whose fierceness is now joyful. If there is any lingering menace, it is the fearsome power and glory of the risen Christ.
Thank you to the members of CUA's Concert Choir and especially to Maestro Harper for this excellent opportunity!