Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Monday, March 1st, 2010
Since the beginning of the fall semester last year, I have been busy learning the music for this year’s opera at Bob Jones, Samson et Dalila by Saint-Saens. I am in the Hebrew Chorus. Beginning this semester, we have been rehearsing on stage in Rodeheaver Auditorium multiple times a week in preparation for the opera. As I’m typing this entry, we are in the middle of a rehearsal and I’m in the middle of the hall listening to the understudies perform Act 2. The guest artists that will be singing the roles of Samson, Dalila, and the Philistine High Priest have just arrived in the last 24 hours and are also in attendance tonight watching our rehearsal.
This is a pretty huge opera – one of the biggest that we do here at Bob Jones. There are literally hundreds of people involved in the production. Opening night is Tuesday, March 9th, one week from tomorrow as I’m writing this. If you are in the Greenville area (or even if you aren’t) you should definitely consider coming to see this. Even if you don’t think you like opera, this production will not disappoint. The music is cool, the costumes are cool, and the set and staging are really cool. 
More information on the opera can be found on the BJU website. You can also view the Facebook event that has been created for it.
Saturday, January 16th, 2010
The spring semeseter 2010 began this past Thursday. Here’s a rundown of my classes and other various activities this semester. First my classes:
- Choral Literature – a survey of choral genres/music down through the centuries
- American Hymnody
- 19th Century Techniques – a study of musical form and analysis of 19th century music
- Private Composition
I am also still in the University Chorale (website | twitter). In addition to performing a concert in April, we are heavily involved in the school’s opera which will be performed in March – Samson et Dalila. All of these classes, plus involvement in choir and opera and work responsibilities will consume most of my time this semester.
But there is always something “cooking” on the compositional front. This month, I will wrap up the incidental music that I’ve been writing for Northland International University’s spring drama. Pretty soon, it will be time to decide on music for my graduate recital (spring, 2011). I will have about 40+ minutes of original music to write for it. I also hope to hear soon from a few publishers regarding my latest choral pieces which I submitted recently.
That’s about all for now. I’m excited about this semester and the many learning opportunities headed my way.
Sunday, December 20th, 2009
After almost three years, it was time to revamp my website. Now that the semester is over and I’m at home, I found the time necessary to complete the new site. During the semester, I worked on some design concepts on and off and eventually finished a basic XHTML/CSS layout. My next task was to convert my design to a WordPress template (WordPress is the Content Management System that powers this site). For the web aficionados out there, here’s a rundown of some more technical elements.
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Saturday, October 31st, 2009
In celebration of Reformation Day 2009 and the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin, I am releasing a new hymn setting that I composed this month. The text is an 18th c. poem by Christian F. Gellert entitled Jesus Lives and So Shall I. I decided to put this text with a new tune, and here it is.
Feel free to use it with your congregations and let me know what you think of it. I hope you enjoy it.
Jesus Lives and So Shall I (PDF)
Saturday, August 1st, 2009
I’ve recently done some re-branding of my design website. My brother and I are no longer doing business as xHTMLpro. We’ve changed our name to WaldenWebdev and are now operating from www.waldenwebdev.com.
As a result, we no longer have a need for our old domain name, and are looking to sell it. It is currently listed at Sedo.com.
Wednesday, April 1st, 2009
Next month, my most recent choral piece, “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say,” will be performed as part of a student composition recital. The recital will feature recent works by about 9 or so current and up-and-coming composition students here at Bob Jones. I was just informed about this yesterday, and I’m excited that my piece was chosen to be among those performed in the recital. Tentatively, it is scheduled for Tuesday, May 5th at 5pm (which is during exam/commencement week here). Make plans to come if you can!
Monday, March 16th, 2009
It has been confirmed… Just received word from the Division Chairman that I have been accepted for the Master of Church Music degree with a Composition Principal. I had been accepted as a Piano principal previously, but I am glad to hear that my composition portfolio was well received and that I will able to pursue music composition for my grad studies!
Thursday, February 26th, 2009
Well, maybe not TV… but you can see me in a new video posted on the redesigned Bob Jones website today. Visit www.bju.edu, click on Videos at the bottom left, scroll to the right some, and click on Behind the scenes of Vespers in the FMA (picture of a clarinetist). You can see the awesome FMA stage crew doing their job setting up for the vespers, and there’s a small shot of me running the light board. The footage for this video was shot last semester.
Tuesday, January 27th, 2009
BJU Coffee Tycoon version 2.0 was re-launched this past weekend. Last semester saw BJUCT 2.0 undergoing some beta testing as this new version is completely different from the original game that was launched in the Fall semester of 2007. Many thanks to those who test-drove the new game.
New features in 2.0:
- Enhanced User Interface – buying and researching made easy!
- Multiple shop locations – you can pay money to set up shop at multiple places around campus as they become available to you.
- Expanded Inventory – you begin with 3 different brews and can research more as your sales increase and as your R&D budget allows.
- Business Office Loans – need some extra cash to buy location enhancements? Now you can take out up to $1,000 from the Business Office.
- Much more than coffee – eventually your inventory will expand to allow you to sell much more than just coffee. I wonder what there might be…
- Much more to come (as time allows, that is).
So, give it a whirl and let me know what you think!
Thursday, November 13th, 2008
I took the liberty this afternoon to update my Music page. You can read up on pieces that I’m currently composing and piano pieces that I’m working on for my Senior Recital in March of ‘09.
