I'm pleased to share another article I've written for the Harp Column! 
Rules for Relocating: A harpist’s guide to setting up shop in a new city
Transitions in life, like transitions in music, can be tough. Whether you are just out of college and building your harp business, or a new job takes you away from your established harp life, relocating is not easy. I know! I’ve moved twice in the past five years, and have some ideas that may help your next transition go more smoothly.

​Harp Column Subscribers can read the full article here: https://harpcolumn.com

During my brief but action packed tenure as the acting principal harpist with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in 2018, the orchestra recorded a brand new trumpet concerto which is included in the latest recording released today from the Beau Fleuve label. Jaakko Kuusisto's Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra was composed for BPO principal trumpet (and my dear friend) Alex Jokipii. Alex spent a year studying at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki where he became acquainted with fellow student Jaakko Kuusisto. In 2015 the pair reconnected when Kuusisto came to the BPO for the American premiere of his violin concerto, and the idea for the trumpet concerto was born. I had the pleasure of meeting Kuusisto and recording the trumpet concerto live with Alex and the BPO in May of 2018.
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I was not performing with the BPO when the other two concertos were recorded, but I'm a big fan of both of the other soloists featured: Feng Hew and Anna Mattix. Composer Rob Deemer and I were in school at UT Austin together, and he is now the director of the Institute for Composer Diversity at SUNY Fredonia which is doing amazing work promoting music created by composers from historically underrepresented groups. I also enjoyed working with composer Caroline Mallonee during my time in Buffalo on one of her chamber music pieces, Curtains of Light, which coincidentally cellist Feng Hew and I premiered along with our fellow musicians from the Buffalo Chamber Players in 2017.

​The recording is available from the Kleinhans Music Hall box office or the BPO online store.

Way back in May of 2017 I had the pleasure of playing second harp for this recording session with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and principal harpist Suzanne Thomas. I am so honored to be a part of performing some of the most incredible music ever written, and I can hardly believe that I'm on a Naxos recording! Being on stage at Kleinhans Music Hall when the BPO plays Wagner is something I will never forget, and I'm so grateful to Suzanne Thomas and Music Director JoAnn Falletta for inviting me to be a part of this project. Yours truly can be heard on track 1 Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla from Das Rheingold, track 3 Wotan's Farewell and Magic Fire Music from Die Walküre, track 6 Siegfried's Death and Funeral Music from Götterdämerung, and track 7 Brunnhilde's Immolation Scene from Götterdämerung. 
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​The recording is available on Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, or your favorite music streaming service. 

Subbing with an ensemble can be both an exciting and daunting task. Whether you are playing second harp with a professional orchestra, a student subbing with a community band, or a freelancer filling in for a few nights of a long-running show, when you find yourself in a substitute situation for a gig, these tips will make your brief time with any group a success.
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Harp Column subscribers can read the full article here: www.harpcolumn.com/fitting-in/