I have written my first piece for orchestra! It will be performed for the first time on January 29th, 2014 by the University of Calgary Orchestra. Parheliawill be the opening composition performed as part of the U of C's "Forms of Sound Festival", which will feature many premieres and works by living Canadian and international composers from January 29-31. It is an amazing feeling to have so many wonderful performers in the orchestra all playing my music all at once! Thank you to the University of Calgary Orchestra and conductor Edmond Agopian for performing my work!

My program note:

"Parhelia, or sundogs, are created by millions of microscopic ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere that align to create an effect similar to a giant crystal prism. The crystals reflect the sun's rays, creating two bright spots on either side of the sun, almost as if there are three suns! I adapted results from scientific research on parhelia as part of my composition process, including angles of refraction, ice crystal alignment patterns, and ice crystal structure. Many of these results have inherently symmetrical qualities, and I deliberately unbalanced the symmetries to acknowledge my own human imbalances.

Dedicated to Eli Purchase."