My Defense was on Friday...

And I passed!!! Which means, this blog is not for not, and I will actually graduate this year!

Sad News

Daniel Catan, world-renowned composer of opera music and all-around nice guy, died last weekend in his sleep.

Prof. Catan was also a visiting professor at UT this semester, serving as both Composer-in-Residence with the Butler Opera Center (they performed "Rappaccini's Daughter" in February) and filling in for Yevgeniy while he is on sabbatical in New York.

Though I didn't get a chance to study with him, I was fortunate enough to have been present at several talks he gave in composition forum about writing for opera. Really nice man and a brilliant composer and gentleman.

Dissertation Complete?

With the defense just days away, I just finished putting the final touches on the written document (bleh) and the orchestrations (double bleh).

Here's hoping that my Last Year doesn't go into its third year...

Violin Concerto Premiere

I'm now a few days removed from the premiere of the 2nd and 3rd movements (and cadenza) of the Violin Concerto and I'm still blown away by the amazing musicianship and hard work of the soloist and all the performers! Speechless, still.

Below is the video from the CLUTCH concert on April 6.