I’m having a blast playing Tchaikovsky’s 5th symphony this week with the San Diego Symphony. Maestro Gemma New is bringing details to the interpretation that aren’t printed on the page, and her leadership has made a huge positive impact on the…
Wagner – Lohengrin Bridal Chorus Sequence
I love weddings. I am always inspired to see two people pledge their lives to each other in front of everyone they care about most. They are magical events, filled with ritual, tradition, and hopefully lots of fun. I am…
Earth Wind and Fire Sequence 1
My first job out of music school was at a gym called Know No Limits (imagine answering the phone with a business name like that…). It was a small business that started in the owner’s garage, and over about 15…
John Williams – Harry Potter Sequence 1
I was one of those kids that read each Harry Potter book in about a day. I would get so locked in to the stories that I would forget meals and stay up through the night reading, always hungry for…
Take Me Out To The Ball Game Sequence
It’s springtime. Birds are chirping, the sun is shining, the grass is growing, and its BASEBALL SEASON. I grew up a Bay Area sports fan, and continue to root for the Giants and the A’s, but my baseball fan-ship is…
Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade Sequence 1
This sequence focuses on a chromatic fanfare that the trombones and trumpets play in the second movement of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov‘s Scheherazade. This orchestral work is a shimmering masterpiece that is full of life, spinning tales of the sea, princes, and…
Dropkick Murphys – Shipping Up to Boston Sequence
Happy St. Patrick’s Day Weekend to all! In the spirit of this American/Irish holiday, I’ve chose a fun minor scale sequence from an American Celtic Punk band called the Dropkick Murphy’s. This group rose to fame by writing music for…
Purcell – Rondo in D Minor Sequence
This sequence is based on the first melody from Henry Purcell‘s Rondeau in D minor, from his Abdelazer suite. Unless you are a baroque music buff, you are more likely to know this melody as the theme from Benjamin Britten‘s Young Persons Guide…
Shostakovich – Festive Overture Sequence 1
This piece starts with a regal fanfare before launches into an exhilarating second section that is built around the melody featured in this sequence. This piece has grown to be one of my favorite overtures, and is yet another reason…
Mendelssohn – Lobgesang Sequence
This sequence is based on the main theme from Felix Mendelssohn‘s Symphony No. 2 Lobgesang . Up until about a month ago I had never heard this piece, and I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to perform it last week. The…