My middle school band director, Mr. Gregory Daniels, made the mistake of teaching us music theory. I don’t think it sunk in very well with most students, but I was hooked. I couldn’t wait to take what I had learned in class and write my own music. Several years later my high school director, Mr. Robert Strickland, let me write music for the concert and marching bands. I wish I had a recording of the band rehearsing that first piece…boy, it was bad! But that’s what life is about, isn’t it? Learning to fail and yet learning from the experience so you get back on the proverbial horse again and again until successful.
So here I am, years later, having been published with Jalen Publishing, Matrix Music, Alfred, and with dozens of commissioned works performed around the country. I’ve had a great number of marching, concert and jazz works selected as “Editor’s Choice” on www.jwpepper.com, and I’ve won many ASCAPlus awards. Additionally, I’ve expanded into writing for my first love: the orchestra. For more than a decade I’ve been writing for string quartets, string orchestras and full orchestras.
What does this mean for you? This means I don’t give up in my quest to write the best piece of music I can. Every work I write gets the same attention to detail and the same amount of passion. So if you are interested in commissioning a piece for orchestra, concert band, jazz band, small ensemble or even a solo, just go to the Contact Info page and send me your information and let’s get started!
