About Me
The year I was born
Cheers premiered on NBC
Graceland was opened to the public
A planetary syzygy occurred on March 10
The Epcot Center opened in Orlando Florida
The Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial was dedicated in Washington DC
The Cardinals defeated the Brewers four games to three in the World Series
TIME Magazine’s Man of the Year Award was given to a non-human for the first time
Barney Clark became the first person to receive a permanent artificial heart
Cats opened on Broadway
The town where I was born
Where Wayne Newton got his start
Home to the world’s largest basket
Boasts prehistoric Native American earthworks, including the Great Circle and the Octagon
Former home of the Heisey Glass Company
The birthplace of John Lincoln Clem, “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh”
Things I like
Reading—Smithsonian, National Geographic, composers’ biographies, etc.
Research—bassoon history/development, French music for bassoon, historical and contemporary cadenzas for the Mozart bassoon concerto
Dark Chocolate
Playing other instruments—piano, harpsichord, recorder, flute, saxophone
People who take themselves seriously but still know how to laugh
Singing more loudly than is recommended for my ability level
A good pun
Students who try to understand theory
Writing quotes
Trying to get people to name things after me
Supportive parents
Golden Harvest Restaurant in Lansing, MI
Playing chamber music with spectacular musicians
Passionate and capable educators
Things I don’t like
Chronic apathy
Passing the buck
Irrational intolerance
Chronic melodrama
Bassoonists who inspire me
Christopher Weait
Michael Kroth
Nadina Mackie Jackson
Dag Jensen
Pascal Gallois
Marc Trénel
Non-classical faves
Alison Krauss
Etta James
Eva Cassidy
Lindi Ortega
Patsy Cline
Classical favorites
Berg, Alban
Boutry, Roger
Dvořák, Antonín
Francaix, Jean
Jacob, Gordon
Jolivet, André
Lussier, Mathieu
Ravel, Maurice
Schulhoff, Erwin
Steinmetz, John
Stravinsky, Igor
Villa-Lobos, Heitor
Photo: Shawn Myrda
Sieben Frühe Lieder for soprano and piano/orchestra
Interferences I for bassoon and piano
Serenade for Winds and Strings, op.44
Divertissement for bassoon and string quintet
Concerto for bassoon and strings
Concerto for bassoon, strings, harp, and piano
Le Rêve de l’Opritchnik for bassoon and piano
Daphnis et Chloé, Pavane pour une infant défunte
Divertissement for woodwind trio
Sonata for bassoon and piano
Petrouchka, Pulcinella
Ciranda das Sete Notas for bassoon and strings, Woodwind Trio