SOMA is an attempt to create a 21st century Wagnerian Gesamtkunstwerk.  Gesamtkunstwerk means "all encompassing art work", and Wagner used it hierarchically - all art forms and technologies used in one of his Music Dramas (read Opera) were subservient to the narrative - the DRAMA.  I've taken Wagner's ideas and extrapolated them to the present, including video, synthesis, film, Foley, surround sound, projections, immersive technologies, computers, mobile apps - in short, anything that we've invented since Wagner has gone to Valhalla, has been put to use to immerse the audience in the DRAMA.  SOMA is also part of my PhD degree in music at the University of Wolverhampton, England UK.  It has been brilliantly and patiently shepherded by Dr. Paul Johnson and Dr. Demitris Zavros.

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SOMA is based on the 1919 German Expressionist film "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari", and features the following structure:

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Prologue:      Traditional Opera

ACT 1:            Broadway Musical

ACT 2:            1940's Film Noir anime

ACT 3:            Mobile App

Epilogue:      Traditional Opera

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ALL decisions in this work - musical or otherwise, are informed by the needs of the DRAMA.  

SOMA will be premiered in the UK in 2018.  To view parts of the dissertation, or to see and hear selections, please go here.

Number 13 is a "Radio Opera" based on a short story penned by the undisputed master of the ghost story - MR James.  My adaptation is scored for full orchestra, voice actors and two Foley operators.  Recording available on the "Recordings" tab on the home page, and scores available on the "store" tab of the home page.  Other performance packages are coming soon.

Thursday I had the pleasure of accompanying renowned nature photographer Noah Bryant on an excursion to Pawlings Farm, an ancient property abutting Valley Forge Park.  This site contains beautiful and mysterious ruins, and perhaps the world's largest London Plane tree.  

To purchase Noah's professional photographs, please visit his website here.

Written in the Autumn of 2016 to 'commemorate' the destruction of the Dance Major (and the beginning of the destruction of all the other arts) at Eastern University in St. Davids Pennsylvania.  Featured vocalist Alanna Piper.

The Christ Child Came is a work for choir and orchestra.  This performance was recorded live at the Kimmel Center, Philadelphia by the Jubilate Deo Chorale and Orchestra, David Bryant conducting.  Recording available on the "Recordings" tab of the home page.

Se 7 en is an orchestral concert rondo written for my father's 80th birthday.  This work features a break out percussion jam at the end.  Scores available on the "Store" tab of the home page, and recording available on the "Recordings" tab of the home page.