Most of us experience trauma. It is sewn throughout history and the human experience. For me, music is a way of moving beyond trauma—of exploring what comes after, how we rise and redefine ourselves. I am drawn to stories that acknowledge suffering but are not consumed by it. Whether in opera, choral works, or instrumental compositions, my goal is to illuminate the moment after darkness, the turning point when resilience takes hold.

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My compositions blend intellect and intuition. While I deeply value collaboration and spontaneity in the creative process, my work is also rooted in deliberate structure and thoughtful craftsmanship. I am particularly drawn to melody—its power to linger in the mind, to evoke emotion, and to create a sense of familiarity and connection. My study of the great melodies throughout history informs my approach, ensuring that my music is not only resonant in the moment but also memorable long after the final note fades.

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In my first opera, Pearl, a sequel to The Scarlet Letter created in collaboration with Carol Gilligan and Jonathan Gilligan, we worked to challenge the paradigm of the tragic story. Inspired by Gilligan’s The Birth of Pleasure, we sought to move beyond narratives that frame suffering as an endpoint, particularly in stories about women and marginalized voices. I am compelled by the idea that trauma does not have to define us—what happens after survival is where transformation begins. This theme recurs in my work, guiding the emotional and structural arcs of my compositions.

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The balance between accessibility and depth is essential to my process. I strive to create music that is emotionally immediate while also rewarding deeper engagement. This means crafting pieces that are harmonically and texturally rich yet never alienating—music that resonates both on an intellectual and visceral level.

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Whether performed in a grand opera house, a concert hall, or an intimate recital space, my work aspires to leave a lasting impression, resonating long after the final note has sounded. My hope is that audiences walk away not only with melodies still singing in their minds but with a sense of the resilience, hope, and transformation that music can embody.