Commissions

Understanding the Commissioning Process

A new flute piece or music from me is a collaborative effort. The process begins with our conversation. Whether you have a specific vision or a vague idea, I will synthesize those thoughts into a piece of music. Each commission is a challenge for me to go somewhere I have not yet been.

My Experience

My first commission was Regrets and Resolutions, which I wrote in 1986, and which has become one of my most famous pieces. I regularly receive commissions from other musicians: among them piccoloists Peter Verhoyen and Zart Eby, flutists Jasmine Choi (for whom I wrote Winter Jasmine) and Sir James Galway (for whom I wrote Green Places, which he premiered in Ireland and performed in the US with the New Jersey Symphony). In addition, I enjoy writing for all the woodwinds, as well as most other orchestral instruments, and have written extensively for the piano and the harp. Commissions have also come from flute, clarinet, and harp societies, and my choral piece Unknown Soldier’s Prayer was commissioned by the Ithaca Choral Society. I was commissioned to write the harp concerto Yi Jing for the 60th Anniversary of the International Harp Competition in Israel

Getting Started

Below are some tips and first steps:

• Research and Collect Ideas – Think about what you would like the commissioned piece to convey. Listen to some of my previous works to understand my style and capabilities.
• Contact Me – I prefer to be contacted via email. You can submit your ideas to me using the CONTACT page on this website.
• Financial Agreement and Timeframe – Once the specifics have been laid out, we will agree upon the commission fee and projected timeline for completion, ensuring that we are both clear about expectations. I typically charge 1/3 of the fee up-front with the remainder due upon completion.

Information Regarding Performance and Intellectual Property

As with standard commissioning agreements, the composer retains all copyrights and intellectual property rights for the commissioned piece. This ensures my ability to benefit from future performances and distributions of the work, while you get the satisfaction of owning a unique, original score as well as the right to perform the premiere of the work and make the first commercial recording.

Wrapping it Up

To put it simply, commissioning a new work with me is about placing your ideas in my hands, and I look forward to hearing from you!