Statement from the Composer: Musical composition is the revelation of one's innermost being. Writing for voice is one of the most meaningful forms of musical expression. Most of my writing is based on personal experiences in my life: memorializing a friend, the death of a child, a celebration of friendship, or other joyful occasions. My philosophy of vocal repertoire is the marriage of voice and piano, an equal partnership. Text is of ultimate importance. Text determines the mood, melody, style, and in the end, the accompaniment. It is my prayer that my music in some small way will be meaningful to those who hear and bring these texts to life.