(Please note: there is one more movement, Pratiksha, that is not yet finished/recorded)
Program Notes
(*for the program note for the entire large work please visit the Presence catalog page)
Presence was the culminating work of a yearlong collaboration with Austin Classical Guitar — the title of the piece was the theme of ACG’s season. What does it mean to be present with one another?
Guitar was my first instrument. I remember sitting in the waiting room before my first guitar lesson as an eight year old, and thinking, “I know this is the beginning of something really big in my life.” It was. Everything that has followed in my career came out of that first lesson.
This suite contains three of the large ensemble numbers from Presence, in a distilled arrangement for guitar ensemble. Writing for young guitarists was one of my favorite parts of this project, and these numbers were the part of the project meant specifically for them.
Recording
(see video above)
Premiere/Performances
Presence (full version) was commissioned by Austin Classical Guitar, as part of the 2023-2024 composer residency. It was premiered on February 17, 2024 in Austin TX by Dieter Hennings, guitar; Kristin Wolfe Jensen, bassoon; VAMP Vocals; and four ensembles from Austin Classical Guitar programs, conducted by Joe Williams.
Presence Suite was also commissioned by Austin Classical Guitar, and was premiered on the ACG Youth Orchestra’s tour of Spain in Summer 2024.
