Featured works

Tango del Alma

Opus 216

In Tango del Alma (Tango of the Soul), I wanted to bring the fire and passion of tango into the intimate voice of the string quartet. The music moves with rubato freedom—its rhythms and accents shifting like dancers in conversation, at times united as one, at times echoing each other in lively exchange.

Lullaby

Performed by Chicago a cappella

Lullaby is written for SATB a cappella and set to an excerpt from The Princess, a narrative poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson, first published in 1847. This tender lullaby, sung from a mother to her child, is intended to soothe, comfort, and gently cradle the listener in sound. I was drawn to Tennyson’s text for its delicate, lyrical imagery—the whisper of the wind, the steady rhythm of the sea, and the sails drifting in the distance—all evoking a serene and dreamlike atmosphere. The poem's simplicity, paired with its evocative language, provided the perfect foundation for this intimate musical setting.

Rain in Summer

Performed by Cleveland Chamber Choir

Rain in summer is written for mixed SATB a cappella choir, setting an excerpt from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 1866 poem Rain in Summer. The text celebrates the revitalizing power of rain, opening with the exclamation, “How beautiful is the rain!”—a phrase whose joyful spirit inspires the piece’s overall tone. Musically, the work mirrors the poem’s imagery through shifting textures and dynamic contrasts. Gentle, cascading lines evoke the soft patter of drizzle, while fuller, denser harmonies reflect the energy of a sudden downpour. The refrain, “How beautiful is the rain!” reappears as a musical anchor, blooming each time with renewed warmth and color. Through this interplay of text and sound, the piece seeks to capture nature’s ability to soothe, refresh, and transform.

Fog

Performed by Sestina Choir

Fog (2016) is scored for SSAA a cappella, set to Carl Sandburg’s 1916 poem Fog. Inspired by his walks near Chicago’s Grant Park, Sandburg crafted this brief yet evocative poem to capture the quiet, mysterious movement of fog as it gently settles over the city. This composition reflects his deep appreciation for nature, bringing to life the poem’s delicate imagery through choral expression.

Dali Miniature

Violin - Laura Mericle, Violin - Maynie Bradley,

Viola - Marie Pauls, Cello - Lindsey Crabb,

Dali Miniatures is written for a string quartet composed in five short movements. It is my musical interpretation of four masterpieces by the great Spanish artist, Salvador Dali, and a digital artwork by Aram Vardazaryan, based on images of Dali's famous elephants. Every piece represents a different idea and character based on the artwork and artist's description. You will hear my musical idea of the disintegration of the atom, the melting cheese of space and time, the natural Om symbol, the caravan of long legged-elephants, and the face of war, filled with infinite death.