When I first wrote Halcyon Hearts, I wrote it in a week when I was a student teacher in Georgia. I wrote the piece as an exercise of thematic material and warmth in sound. The theme was passion- passion in those you love and the things you love no matter what anyone says. Years later, this small piece has become a fan favorite and a piece I am thankful that gets played so much. While I was thankful, I had become restless with the constant asking for the piece or that being the only thing people would know my music for- I lost my passion for the work. I had started to grow feelings for the piece similar to that of Radiohead and Creep. However one day I looked at the comments left on my social media platforms, read the posts so many made about this piece and I saw the stories and all the lives this work has changed. I found what I lost- the everlasting feeling of love and appreciation. When asked to write for the 2024 Midwest Band and Orchestra Conference, I knew what I wanted to write… EVERGLOW.

EVERGLOW is a continuation of the feeling from Halcyon Hearts. The meaning of Everglow is the warm feeling of love that lingers after its initial discovery. While Halcyon Hearts was about an overture about the discovery of passion, Everglow to me currently is the finale of that feeling- what remained, what was lost and what grew from the proclamation of passion and love.

I am forever grateful to every director, every musician, every composer, every student and every kind soul that has embraced my music, that has embraced Halcyon Hearts, and that has embraced my own heart. Without you, all this wouldn’t have happened- and thanks to you all- the passion remains.

The everglow lives on…