Compositional Philosophy
I compose sacred music that grows directly out of the liturgical text itself. Scripture is never a backdrop for me — it is the architect of the music. Every phrase, every harmonic turn, every shift in texture is shaped by the rhetorical and theological character of the words. I write to illuminate the text, not to decorate it.
My musical language lives at the intersection of the ancient and the modern. I’m deeply influenced by the clarity and discipline of Renaissance polyphony, the luminous harmonic pacing of 20th‑century American choral writing, and the modal colors of early sacred chant. These influences are not quotations or imitations; they form the soil from which my own voice grows. I gravitate toward triadic pillars enriched by suspensions, added‑tone sonorities, and modal mixture — harmonies that feel both rooted and searching, both timeless and immediate.
Texture is central to how I think. I rarely write in blocks; I write in layers. Whether I’m working with a full choir, a small ensemble, or a single melodic line supported by instruments, I’m always shaping a sense of depth — a musical space where lines breathe independently yet belong to a unified whole. Sometimes that means transparent polyphony; sometimes it means a grounded chorale; sometimes it means a luminous, sustained atmosphere that feels like a sonic icon.
Above all, I compose with theological intentionality. Sacred music should not merely sound beautiful; it should reveal something. It should carry the weight of proclamation, the tenderness of prayer, the urgency of repentance, or the radiance of divine promise. My goal is always to let the listener hear the text in a new way — to feel its gravity, its comfort, its warning, its hope.
My work is an ongoing attempt to honor the sacred tradition while speaking in a contemporary voice. I want my music to be singable yet sophisticated, reverent yet alive, ancient yet freshly compelling. If it helps a choir, a congregation, or a single listener encounter the text more deeply, then it has done what I hoped it would do.
Personal Background
I am a composer, cellist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and liturgist living in Wichita, KS. I’m an elder at Immanuel Lutheran Church (Wichita) and I am active in the composition, selection, and performance of our liturgical music. I studied music (cello performance and composition) at Kansas State University as well as English Literature and Creative Writing with an emphasis in poetry. I hold a Master of Divinity degree from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO.