Program Note

When I set out to write this new brass quintet for the Brevard Summer Institute, I made a conscious decision that I would use this time to examine my musical language under a microscope and figure out how I can more closely bridge the gap between what I like writing and what performers like performing. The concept of this piece was born from sitting on rocks by the lake and observing the wildlife in all its natural chaos against the stillness of the air and water. I began to think about how insigni!cant the festival was compared to the wildlife and vice versa. I also formed similarities in my mind to sitting on the patio at my parents house in Houston observing the cardinals at the birdfeeder. I figured that, while I was here, I should celebrate all the small things that have allowed me to live the life I do and write that into my music. In other words, this piece is a celebration of stillness, of tranquility, and of peace.

The title "Sunshine Cardinal" to me evokes the sort of charming, slightly awkward names given to boats that seem rather arbitrary. To me, this title conjures up a joyfulness in the outdoors, where despite living in cities my whole life, I have always had an affinity to outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, or even just sitting by a campfire. While much of my music is serious and usually has some sort of narrative structure or explicit description, this piece is a rather strong outlier from those qualities and is instead just a small moment of joy that I believe we all can relish in.

Performances

June 18, 2026 Brevard Music Center, Brevard, NC. Brevard Brass Quintet.