Commissioned by the wonderful Norwegian group, 5 på Tvers/ 5 Across for the 2015 NFA convention in Washington, DC. Members: Mari Sundsaasen Innervik, Anne Hveding, Linn Annett Ernø, Ragnild Døsen and Henriette Wie Flaig. Since California is many seas apart from Norway, the title of the piece is a takeoff of the fact that flutes, in general, are C instruments and we are seas apart. The piece is programmatic in nature, starting with the ensemble blowing across their instruments and then slowly finding their way across the waves and over to their native country. This piece should have a strong bass flute player and is definitely worth the effort!

Commissioned by Chamber Music Palisades (Delores Stevens and Susan Greenberg, co-founders and directors) in 2008, Americana Quartet began its development when I was fortunate to have been granted a residency at the Ucross Foundation in Wyoming in the fall of 2007. An idyllic setting for creative thought, the environment at Ucross is perfectly suited to freely allow thoughts to gather, develop, throw away, discover, re-discover, blossom and develop. In addition to the blissful energy of discovery, the Ucross Foundation is situated in the high mountains/desert plains of North Central Wyoming. Antelopes and deer freely roam; birds soar and, unfortunately, sometimes hunters hunt. Through the combination of experiences, seeds of this work developed and were formed The western/ Appalachian feel of the fiddle tune and rhythmic playfulness of the piece emerged. Then, from Wyoming and its idyllic setting, I went to New York with its jazz flavored energy and influences. What could be more American than Boogie Woogie and Appalachian flavors. Hence, Americana Quartet came into being. The works is approximately 12 minutes long and can be performed in sections, although it is preferable to perform it in its entirety for the full Americana experience

ANIMA-in Jungian psychology, the true inner self as opposed to the outer persona.
Animalogy (n.): The not-very-serious study of the many varieties of animals found in their natural habitats in and around the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska as viewed through the eyes and ears of this human animal/composer during her myriad adventures throughout the area. A musical portrait of the various creatures living and procreating in the Kenai Peninsula including, but not limited to, the many varieties of birds, bald eagles, bears, moose(s), sheep, wolves, and sea life that inhabit this spectacular piece of real estate. It is up to you, the listener and performer, to catch glimpses of the various animals as they go about their daily tasks and pleasures.
Animalogy was commissioned in 2006 for the Continental Harmony Project, Alaska, generously funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and The American Composers Forum. It is the middle movement of An Alaskan Symphony that is scored for full orchestra, woodwind quintet and choir and orchestra. Animalogy was premiered at The Pratt Museum in Homer, AK June 16th, 2006. The complete Alaskan Symphony was premiered in Homer and Kenai, Alaska in April of 2007 by the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra and choirs under the direction of Mark Robinson. Animalogy is a winner of the 2007 Aeros Quintet Competition and will be performed in Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall on May 5, 2008.

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Written for and premiered by The Salieri String Quintet in Seattle, WA
A strong, bold, tonal work which had its genesis from a boundary dispute I was having with a neighbor. The piece is also appropriate for string orchestra.

Cuban Stories, commissioned by Chamber Music Palisades, Susan Greenberg and Delores Stevens, co-founders and directors, was a happy outcome of my trip to Cuba in December of 2013. A remarkable and exciting trip that introduced me to both the old and the new, pre-and-post revolution. In the creating of this work, I attempted to bridge the gap between the two Cubas. It is a trip I would gladly take again!

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Daydreams, the last movement of the chamber work titled "Between the dark and daylight" begins with the minor third interval and weaves through a playful variety of children's tunes from European countries. There's even a bit of Brahms lullaby thrown in. This will be a terrific work for school outreach concerts and will be fun to see how many tunes the audience can recognize as they fly by. Composing this work surprised me as it progressed. I thought it would be a serious statement on the future that looms for our children's children. As it turned out, there is a great deal of hope and frivolity.

Eastern Hymn (2009) for Saxophone Quartet began as a study in combining singing and playing instruments simultaneously. As a former singer, I am intrigued by the influence the voice has on producing sound in pitched instruments. Through this process evolved the sound of a drone like instrument as in middle Eastern music. As the world gets increasingly smaller and cultures become more intertwined, the progress of cross-pollenating musical genres becomes more evident. Eastern Hymn is the cross pollenation of the East and the West, i.e. Indian ragas and Western jazz, a tradition I grew up with (the Western part!) and the music I love to listen to. This work is dedicated to Dr. Alan Durst and the California State University Fresno Saxophone Quartet.

Originally Commissioned by Corky Hale Stoller. and Premiered by Marcia Dickstein of The Debussy Trio in 2002 with the Young Musicians Foundation Orchestra in Beverly Hills, CA. Using the orchestration of Ravel's Introduction and Allegro plus jazz bass, I have fashioned this work as a lyrical blending of European classical music with American Jazz. Not usually known as a jazz instrument, the harp crosses musical boundaries and playfully works both sides of the musical aisle. A fun, challenging piece for a harpist with a written out cadenza with plenty of room for improvisation. Revised 2019

A lovely, lyrical, rhythmic work loosely based on Amazing Grace premiered will be performed, livestreamed, and audio/video recorded on March 26, 2024 @ 7:30 pm MST. ☺️💗

Commissioned by Tom Beal in 2017, Horn Quartet #1 has had numerous performances.

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Lullaby, the middle movement of the chamber work titled "Between the dark and daylight". Lullaby is a gentle song featuring the voices of the individual instruments. As my former musical life included being a singer, I ask myself if each musical line can be sung and if so, then it follows that it should sound good on an instrument. Although I wrote the notes, the shape and intention of the music can only come to life through the collaborative process of the musicians interpreting what I have written and to that end, I was extremely fortunate to have such marvelous musicians premiere this work; Mark Carlson, flute, Roberto Cani, violin, James Dunham, viola, David Speltz, cello and Joann Turovsky, harp.

"Lullaby for Four " is the latest version of "Lullaby". This version, for c flute, clarinet, cello and piano was requested by The Sirius Chamber Ensemble in Sydney, Australiafor an upcoming concert on April 4th, 2012. "Lullaby for Four" is an extended version of the original with an upbeat middle section that features each of the four instruments. Until I get a new mp3 version, the MP3 version you can listen to is by the wonderful Alto Polis Trio recorded in a live performance in 2008.

"Lullaby for Four " is the latest version of "Lullaby". This version, for c flute, clarinet, cello and piano was requested by The Sirius Chamber Ensemble in Sydney, Australiafor an upcoming concert on April 4th, 2012. "Lullaby for Four" is an extended version of the original with an upbeat middle section that features each of the four instruments. Until I get a new mp3 version, the MP3 version you can listen to is by the wonderful Alto Polis Trio recorded in a live performance in 2008.

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A beautiful melody with underlying harmonies that transcend boundaries of classical and pop music, this piece was originally composed for saxophone quartet. The wonderful saxophonist, Doug Masek, first performed the piece in this orchestration under the title, "Four Love". I have since revised the original to correspond with the other transcriptions of the work.

A beautiful melody with underlying harmonies that transcend boundaries of classical and pop music, this piece was originally composed for saxophone quartet. The wonderful saxophonist, Doug Masek, first performed the piece in this orchestration under the title, "Four Love". I have since revised the original to correspond with the other transcriptions of the work.

A beautiful melody with underlying harmonies that transcend boundaries of classical and pop music, this piece was originally composed for saxophone quartet. The wonderful saxophonist, Doug Masek, first performed the piece in this orchestration under the title, "Four Love". I have since revised the original to correspond with the other transcriptions of the work.

After David Katz heard the saxophone version of "Mirror Images" up at Cal State University Fresno, he came to me at the end of the concert and asked if I would make a transcription of the work for string quartet. I was delighted to do this as I felt strongly that this lovely work works well for most any group of instruments and of course, the strings are among the most beautiful of all.

This latest version of my MIRROR IMAGES was requested by the wonderful bassoonist, lecturer and teacher, Dr. Christin Schillinger at Ithaca College, NY. I found this version to be the most difficult to compose as the original versions for saxophones and clarinets had a wide range from the low tones up into the notes above the treble clef. Nevertheless, this version is beautiful with the rich and rangy timbre of the bassoons.

Latest version of my Mirror Images

version for French Horns premiered by Quadre

Commissioned by a consortium of trombonists headed by Corey Nance, MOMENT TO MOMENT is composed for high school/college trombone groups for a trombone octet plus solo bass trombone. Premiered in 2023 and performed by New York Philharmonic bass trombonist, George Curran. Also performed by retired bass trombonist of the St. Louis Symphony, Gerry Pagano.

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"Visions of Grace", commissioned by the wonderful low flutes expert, Peter Sheridan, is a beautiful, lyrical work based on the universal theme of "Amazing Grace" but with surprising twists and turns slightly bringing in other folk tunes from around the globe. The colors of the low flutes are brought out in this collage of songs. "Visions of Grace" was premiered at the NFA Convention in August, 2015 in Washington, D.C.with Peter Sheridan, alto, Emily Senchuk, alto2, Chris Potter, bass1, Wendy Stern, bass 2, and Paige Dashner Long, contra-bass. A stellar group of musicians! It is being performed at NFA again in 2023.