ForrestWorks

The years seem to get busier as they go! Here’s my year’s worth of compositional work:

WRITING:

• A Covenant Prayer (a cappella version, keyboard accomp version, and string orchestra version; not submitted for publication yet)
• A Prayer Before Singing (a cappella; Hinshaw 2011)
• Amazing Grace/When I Survey (chorus and keyboard or orchestra; Beckenhorst 2010)
• The Shepherds Carol (chorus and string orchestra or string quartet; Beckenhorst 2010)
• Children Of the Heavenly Father (2-part chorus or children’s chorus with piano and optional harp/flute/cello/handbells; Beckenhorst 2011)
• A Christmas Lullaby (re-working of A Basque Lullaby with Tony Silvestri; Hinshaw 2011)
• Holy, Mighty, Worthy (chorus and piano; Soundforth 2011)
• How Great Thou Art (Beckenhorst 2010)
• I Know That My Redeemer Lives (Beckenhorst 2010)
• I Wonder As I Wander (solo piano; Beckenhorst 2010)
• in paradisum orchestral version (Hinshaw 2010)
• In Your Footsteps (Beckenhorst 2010)
• Psalm 8 (children’s chorus, piano, violin, and djembe; Hal Leonard 2011)
• St Patrick’s Hymn (chorus and keyboard or orchestral winds; Hinshaw 2011)
• The Music of Living (chorus and piano; not submitted for publication yet)
• Entreat Me Not To Leave You (a cappella; not submitted for publication yet)

ORCHESTRATIONS:

• Christ Is Risen (unpublished; orchestrated for my church)
• Make My Life An Alleluia (unpublished; orchestrated for my church)
• Every Valley (Beckenhorst)
• The First Noel (Beckenhorst)
• There Is Faint Music (self-published)
• His Robes For Mine (self-published)
• O God Beyond All Praising (brass and organ; Hinshaw)
• My Song Is Love Unknown (for Soundforth recording)
• Be Not Afraid (for Soundforth recording)
• For the Beauty Of The Earth (for Soundforth recording)
• My Song Is Love Unknown (for Soundforth recording)

EVENTS:

• Premiere of Lord of the Small in Texas with Craig Courtney
• Premiere of Over Havet in Kansas with Staley High School and the University of Kansas Concert Choir
• Trip to Thailand and the Philippines (taught nearly 80 composition lessons in 9 days in Manila)
• Clinician at Alleluia Conference, Baylor University
• Presenter at Shawnee’s Music in the Mountains
• Presenter at Hinshaw’s Celebration
• Produced choral recording for Soundforth
• Premiere of A Prayer Before Singing in Greenville
• Premiere of St Patrick’s Hymn by the Greenville Chorale and Symphony
• Guest Composer, Friends University Singing Quakers Alumni Choir in Kansas
• Premiere of orchestral version of in paradisum in Indiana
• Premiere of orchestral version of There Is Faint Music in Indiana (although I didn’t attend)
• Numerous other performances in schools, churches, colleges, all-state choirs, community choirs, semi-professional and professional choirs, etc, across the country and around the world…many of which can be seen on YouTube.

OTHER:

• A Basque Lullaby for wind band sold very well, was performed at Midwest Clinic in Chicago, and was selected for inclusion in Volume 8 of the Teaching Music through Performance in Band series.
• 2010 Ness Beck Foundation Award for There Is A Fountain (Soundforth, 2009).

In 2011, I have a full slate of commissions, as well as premieres scheduled at the Texas MEA convention, national ACDA, Carnegie Hall, Williamsburg Virginia, and the Texas Master Chorale. Praise be to God for letting me make part of my living doing things I so richly enjoy! Writing music can be wearisome and frustrating at times, but what joys await when ideas come, pieces take shape, and music is made- whether in my head, at concerts I attend, or in performances I only hear about later. The privilege of pressing this part of God’s creation toward all it can possibly be is immensely rewarding, in due season. I never tire of hearing from performers, conductors, audience members, etc. Soli Deo Gloria.