Where is Love, a ten-movement song cycle, debuted in Raleigh, NC on June 21, 2009. The response was very positive and it was a great experience for me, Triangle Gay Men’s Chorus and the audience.
performed the Baritone Solo and I sang the Tenor Solo.
My mom, brother and close friends sat in the front row, among them Sally and Amy, for whom “Winter Before the Fire” was written.
From the “From the Composer” section of the concert program:
“Where is Love started out as one song in 2005 entitled ‘Red Rose.’ I made a demo recording of the first and second drafts of the piece to present to people I believed could help me improve on the piece.
Upon hearing the demo recording, TGMC Artistic Director John-Philip Mullinax made some suggestions to improve on the song, and then suggested that I email the recording to Dr. Tim Seelig, then Artistic Director for Turtle Creek Chorale in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Seelig’s response was a very positive.
“Where is Love started out as one song in 2005 entitled ‘Red Rose.’ I made a demo recording of the first and second drafts of the piece to present to people I believed could help me improve on the piece.
Upon hearing the demo recording, TGMC Artistic Director John-Philip Mullinax made some suggestions to improve on the song, and then suggested that I email the recording to Dr. Tim Seelig, then Artistic Director for Turtle Creek Chorale in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Seelig’s response was a very positive.
Then in February 2007, I met with Dr. Seelig in New York City. I was a member of a mass choir that would be performing When We No Longer Touch by Kristopher John Anthony. It is this work that inspired me to write ‘Red Rose’ and later take on the journey of writing Where is Love.
Dr. Seelig and I met briefly after one of the rehearsals and he was very warm and encouraging. He also suggested that I keep writing music because he thought that I had promise as a composer.
‘Red Rose’ debuted in June of 2006 and was released as a CD single later that year. As I talked with John-Philip Mullinax, fellow chorus members and friends about ‘Red Rose,’ I realized that there was more to the story that the song hinted at.
And so began the journey to what you will hear tonight. Three years later, almost to the day since I wrote the first concept draft of what would become ‘Red Rose,’ Where is Love makes its world premier. It is a story about a journey to find love.
Dr. Seelig and I met briefly after one of the rehearsals and he was very warm and encouraging. He also suggested that I keep writing music because he thought that I had promise as a composer.
‘Red Rose’ debuted in June of 2006 and was released as a CD single later that year. As I talked with John-Philip Mullinax, fellow chorus members and friends about ‘Red Rose,’ I realized that there was more to the story that the song hinted at.
And so began the journey to what you will hear tonight. Three years later, almost to the day since I wrote the first concept draft of what would become ‘Red Rose,’ Where is Love makes its world premier. It is a story about a journey to find love.
What does it really mean to love,
anyway? And in the midst of that question lies
another, ‘Where is God’s love for me?’
I am honored to have Dr. Seelig, who has provided so much encouragement over these past few years, here beside me this evening.
I am also deeply indebted to my band of brothers, Triangle Gay Men’s Chorus, to John-Philip Mullinax, and to my friends who have all supported me and believed in this work.”
