This upcoming fall I’ll begin my PhD in music composition at the University of Pennsylvania as a Fontaine Fellow. I’m super excited to get to work with the very tight-knit composer community there, which includes such amazing composer faculty as Natacha Diels, Anna Weesner, and last year’s Pulitzer Prize recipient, Tyshawn Sorey. I’ll get to take part in a number of performances by visiting ensembles in the department as well as the yearly new music for orchestra readings at the Curtis Institute. Additionally, I’ll be performing in ensembles at Penn’s campus such as the Penn Symphony Orchestra (directed by a Rice alum!)

It’s going to be a really drastic change going from the car-centric and blazing hot Houston to walkable and chilly Philly. As a fan of the snow, I warmly welcome this change in atmosphere.

My new orchestral work, SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS premieres tonight at 7:30PM in Stude Concert Hall at the Shepherd School of Music under the baton of Jerry Hou. This work was my master’s thesis and is being premiered alongside 4 other works on the abnormally large “Alumni Composer Spotlight” concert. It’s been something of a dream to write for this orchestra that I’ve admired so much since coming to Rice University in 2022. They’ve really taken to the work and I’m excited to hear the results of their labor tonight.

For (free) tickets as well as a link to the livestream, please click here.

And to read about this piece and see the score, please click here.

My new work for quintet (alto flute, bass clarinet, violin, cello, piano) was premiered on February 15th by DACAMERA Young Artists with me conducting. The work was simultaneously an elegy for my recently deceased mentor, Karl Kohn, as well as a response to Joe Overstreet’s exhibition, Taking Flight, on view at the Menil right now. More information on this work coming soon!

One of the most rewarding aspects of my work as a young artist with DACAMERA of Houston is getting involved in the very out-of-the-ordinary projects they put on every year. As a part of this year’s season, my friend and former classmate Nanki Chugh (pictured) invited me to collaborate with her on an educational musical theater work titled “The Science of Sound.” The work involves a set of adventurers going on a trip across the universe to find sounds to “send to Oliver so he can write us music.” Throughout the musical are a few numbers where I beam them new pieces based off the sounds they send to me. I was happy to find out that, through partnerships with a number of HISD schools throughout Houston, every single seat was filled up with 5th graders for all 6 performances.

My work “Monsoon” will be premiered by the Pacific Chamber Orchestra under the baton of their director, Lawrence Kohl on Sunday, October 27th as a part of the Dream American concert. This concert will include five premieres by emerging composers. More information on this work coming soon.