Complete List of Works

Last updated in 2019, will be updating in early 2021 shortly, but all newest works are listed on the main page 

Arranged by category then roughly chronological, with occasional adjustments made for more substantial or related works either together or closer to the top. *=performed in public

Opera

Pepito (2019)*
Libretto by Marella Martin Koch
Commissioned by the Washington National Opera through the American Opera Initiative
Premiered at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.
Scored for soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, and chamber orchestra (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, percussion, piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass)

Gilberto (in progress)
Libretto by Marella Martin Koch
Written for the University of Southern California New Opera Workshop
Scored for 2 sopranos, 2 mezzo-sopranos, tenor, baritone, and piano

Orchestra/Large Ensemble

Ocho Bendiciones (2019)
Commissioned by Nomad Session www.nomadsession.org
Story by Diego Dela Rosa
Scored for wind octet: flute, oboe, clarinet in Bb (double bass clarinet), bassoon, horn, trumpet in C, trombone, tuba, and narrator (conductor not required)

Cool Grey City (2018)*
I. Gardens
II. Staircases
III. Landscapes
Commissioned by Nomad Session www.nomadsession.org
Scored for wind octet: flute, oboe, clarinet in Bb (double bass clarinet), bassoon, horn, trumpet in C, trombone, and tuba (conductor not required)
Optional live and improvised video projections created by Maggie Beidelman (operated via a Max 7 patch).

Magnetismus (2015)*
Commissioned by One Found Sound (www.onefoundsound.org)
Winner of the Heartland Symphony Orchestra annual Composition Contest (2016)
Scored for 2/2/2/2, 2/2/1/1, strings 

Summer(s) of '69 (2015)*
Commissioned by Elevate Ensemble as part of a residency (www.elevateensemble.com)
Video by Maggie Beidelman Benavides
Scored for flute, bassoon, trumpet, two string quartets, and bass

“Pain has an element of blank” - Emily Dickinson Song Cycle (2014)*
Text by: Emily Dickinson (public domain)
Finalist for the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award
Scored for mezzo-soprano and chamber orchestra
1. It’s such a little thing to weep
2. Wild nights!
3. Faith is a fine invention
4. Heart, we will forget him!
5. Success is counted sweetest
6. I felt a funeral in my brain
7. I’m nobody!
8. I taste a liquor never brewed 

For “Skipper” (2014)
Commissioned by the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble's Intersection Community Workshop
Scored for amateur orchestra (depended on participants, but for this performance 3 fl, 2 cl, piano four hands, guitar, and strings)

Chamber

Otto’s Ornithopter (2018)
Written for the Eighth Blackbird Creative Lab in Ojai, CA
Scored for 1 trumpet, 4 percussionists

Rinconcito (2018)*
Commissioned by the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble thanks to Will and Linda Schieber
Scored for guitar, violin, viola, and cello

Ghost Trap (2017)*
Commissioned by Siroko Duo and the Guerrilla Composers Guild. Written at Avaloch Farm.
Supported by a grant through InterMusic SF.
Scored for two flutes and electronics (Max 7 patch, controlled by players) 

Bipedaling (2017)
Commissioned by Sarah Herbert and the Presser Foundation
I. Jog (Orthogradable)
II. Skip (Aposematastic)
III. Stroll (Thermoregulating)
IV. Dash (Spring-Mass)
Scored for trumpet and guitar quartet 

The Color Festivals (2016)*
Commissioned by Elevate Ensemble as part of a residency (www.elevateensemble.com)
Based on the book Told By the Sandman by Abbie Phillips Walker (published 1916)
I. The Enchanted Tree
II. Discontented Dewdrop
III. The Grumpies
IV. Towser
V. The Land of "I Forgot"
VI. The Magic Gloves
Duration: 17:00
Scored for harpsichord and string quartet

Recyclate (2015)*
Commissioned by the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble and the de Young Museum
www.leftcoastensemble.org
Duration: 6:00
Scored for flute, oboe, bass clarinet, violin, viola, cello

For Max and Hannah (2015)*
Scored for violin and guitar
&
Scored for harp and string quartet
& 
arranged for guitar and guitar (by Timothy Sherran of One Great City Duo)

On Breathing (2015)*
Written for the Guerrilla Composers Guild and Ignition Duo
www.ignitionduo.com
www.guerrillamusic.org
Duration: 7:00
Scored for two electric guitars, audience participation, and video projections

“...none of us were overly concerned...” (2014)*
Written for the Guerrilla Composers Guild/Phonochrome/Composers Inc.
www.guerrillamusic.org
www.composersinc.org
Duration: 14:00
Scored for flute, cello, piano

Bog Bodies & Other Macabre Miniatures (2014)*
Written for the Guerrilla Composers Guild/Hot Air Music Festival
www.hotairmusicfestival.com
www.guerrillamusic.org
Duration: 8:45
Scored for flute, cello, guitar, marimba, and projections

And the horse you rode in on (2013)*
Finished in February, 2013, Recorded in March, 2013. Adapted from my jazz piece, Al-Andalus
Written for Friction Quartet, The Mobius Trio, and Andy Meyerson
www.frictionquartet.com
www.mobioustrio.org
www.thelivingearthshow.com
Duration: 8:30
Scored for string quartet, guitar trio, and drum set

Petrichor (2011)*
Written for The Walden School and members of the International Contemporary Ensemble
www.waldenschool.org
www.iceorg.org
Duration: 5:45
Scored for bassoon, violin, cello, piano, vibraphone

String Quartet

El Correcaminos (2019)
Commissioned by Friction Quartet as part of their Commissioning Initiative

since feeling is first (2013)*
Duration 7:00 (1st mvmt)

Song/Cantata

When I was a child (2018)*
Written for Duo Cortona as part of the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music
Scored for mezzo-soprano and violin
Premiered at the University of South Carolina School of Music

Trying to play clean (and looking for pretty notes) (2016)*
Commissioned by Friction Quartet and Russ Irwin, an end of life Charlie Parker Cantata
Finalist for the Morton Gould Young Composer Award (2017)
Text by: Nick Benavides (based on quotes – protected under Fair Use)
Duration: 14:00
Scored for soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, and string quartet
Part 1: Re-Bop
Part 2: Fallout
Part 3: Flashbacks
Part 4: Thirst
Part 5: Unfinished

The Artist (2017)*
Poetry: David Thomas Lloyd (used with permission)
Commissioned by Jill Morgan Brenner as part of her “I sing the words” project
www.jillmorganbrenner.com
Duration: 12:00
I. Thinking of John Glenn
II. The Artist 

A Thirsty Fish (chamber/pop song cycle) (written 2013-2017- unfinished)*
Text by: Rumi, translation Coleman Barks (performance and recording permission)
Partially commissioned by Elevate Ensemble, One Great City Duo, Winnie Nieh & Matt Schwede. An ongoing chamber pop song cycle written for myself. Incorporating elements of past jazz and chamber compositions.
Duration (so far): ~25:00
Scored for lead sheet and variable ensemble, fully notated versions listed below
I. A Thirsty Fish (2015, revise 2016)
II. A wink (2016)
III. Say who I am (2016)
IV. Who says words with my mouth? (2014, revised 2016)
V. The oldest thirst there is (2017)
VI. Where everything is music (2017)

Individual songs that are fully scored, chronologically by completion date:

Where everything is music (2017)*
Commissioned by One Great City Duo (onegreatcityduo.com)
Text by: Rumi, translation Coleman Barks (performance permission)
Duration: 4:15
Scored for mezzo-soprano and two guitars 

The oldest thirst there is (2017)*
Commissioned by Guerrilla Composers Guild and Hot Air Music Festival
Text by: Rumi, translation Coleman Barks (performance permission)
Duration: 4:00
Scored for soprano and cello

A thirsty fish set (I-IV) (2016)*
Partially commissioned by Elevate Ensemble
I. A Thirsty Fish (2015, revised 2016)
II. A wink (2016)
III. Say who I am (2016)
IV. Who says words with my mouth? (2013, revised 2016)
Scored for tenor, trumpet, and piano

Who says words with my mouth? (2013)*
Text by: Rumi, translation Coleman Barks (performance permission)
Duration: 6:30
Scored for soprano and piano

Tus Manos (2015)*
Text by: Pablo Neruda
Commissioned by Stephanie Webster and Jack Van Geem for the Zeltsman Marimba Festival
www.sfmarimba.com
Duration: 6:00
Scored for two marimbas and mezzo-soprano

Three Lorca Songs (2014)*
Text by: Federico García Lorca
Written for the Guerrilla Composers Guild/Jarring Sounds
www.jarringsounds.com, www.guerrillamusic.org
Duration: 10:15
Scored for mezzo-soprano and guitar
I. Leave Me Here Crying (Ah!)
II. The Giant Mirror
III. Ditty of First Desire

“Pain has an element of blank” - Emily Dickinson Song Cycle (2013, revised 2014)*
Text by: Emily Dickinson (public domain)
Finalist for the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award
Duration: 23:00
Scored for mezzo-soprano and piano (see above for chamber orchestra version)
1. It’s such a little thing to weep
2. Wild nights!
3. Faith is a fine invention
4. Heart, we will forget him!
5. Success is counted sweetest
6. I felt a funeral in my brain
7. I’m nobody!
8. Hope is the thing with feathers (2008, only piano/voice)
9. I taste a liquor never brewed

“Squirrels aren't the cute little things you think they are” (2013)*
Text by: Damon (used with permission)
Written for Amy Foote/Killer Squirrel and other Feral Airs
www.amymichellefoote.com
Duration: 9:00
Scored for soprano, melodica, and loop pedal

Bendita Sea Tu Pureza (2010)
Text by: Traditional prayer
Commissioned by the California Catholic Women’s Forum
creativecatholicworks.org/music
Duration: 4:30
Scored for mezzo-soprano, harp, and piano

Chaos (solo & unison choir) (2010)*
Text by: Justin Muehlmeyer (permission granted)
Duration: 2:30
Scored for voice or unison choir

Lullaby (2009)*=
Text by: Justin Muehlmeyer (permission granted)
Duration: 4:35
Scored for baritone and piano

Choir

i thank You God for most this amazing day (2014)*
Text by: E.E. Cummings (permission pending)
1st Prize, SFCM Biennial Choir Composition Competition
Duration: 4:30
Scored for SATB Choir

Albuquerque Academy Alma Mater (2015)
Text by: Nick Benavides
Written for the Albuquerque Academy High School
Duration: 2:05
Scored for SATB Choir

Go, lovely rose! (2013)*
Text by: Edmund Waller (public domain)
Commissioned by: Essonance Chamber Choir
www.essonance.com
Duration 2:30
Scored for SATB Choir

A bird came down the walk (2011)*
Text: Emily Dickinson (public domain)
Commissioned by Musae
www.musae.org
Duration: 3:00
Scored for a SSAA Choir

Let Us Allow (cycle) (2011)*
Text by: Messiaen, Stravinsky, Debussy
Duration: 10:00
Scored for soloist (soprano), conductor, and mixed choir/audience
1. Let Us Allow (text: Olivier Messiaen)
2. Let Us Understand (text: Igor Stravinsky)
3. Art is the most beautiful deception of all! (Let Us Content) (text: Claude Debussy)

Tota Pulchra Es (2010)*
Text: Catholic prayer (public domain)
Commissioned by the California Catholic Women’s Forum
creativecatholicworks.org/music
Duration: 4:15
Scored for SATB choir and soprano soloist

Solo

For Alysse (2015)*
for my sister's wedding
Duration: 2:00
Scored for solo guitar or solo harp

Dumi spiro… (2014)*
Written for the Guerrilla Composers Guild/Teleformation
www.guerrillamusic.org
Duration: 10:00
Scored for solo viola

Phut (2011)*
Duration: 2:00
Scored for solo bassoon

Prelude in Eb Major (2015)*
Written for David Conte's 60th Birthday Celebration
www.davidconte.net
Duration: 3:00

“...none of us were overly concerned...” (2014, rev. 2016)*
Based on chamber work from 2014, revised 2016
Arranged for pianist Karl Schultz
Duration: 5:19
for solo piano

Minuet en el nombre de Maggie (2010)*
Duration: 3:00
for solo piano

Electronic

go bug (got you!) (2014)*
Written for Kyle Hovatter's daughter, Alice
Duration: 4:05 

Brass

Bay Suite (2014)*
Written for The Bay Brass and Edwin Outwater, conductor
www.baybrass.org
www.edwinoutwater.com
Duration 12:25
Scored for brass ensemble
1. The Gate
2. Angel Island (adapted from “A bird came down the walk”)
3. The City 

Prelude and Fugue on “Old Friends” (2014)*
Written for the Guerrilla Composers Guild/International Low Brass Trio
www.facebook.com/InternationalLowBrassTrio
www.guerrillamusic.org
Duration: 5:40
Scored for horn, trombone, and tuba

In New England (2010)*
Duration: 3:15
Scored for brass quintet 

Jazz

 A Thirsty Fish (2015)*
Text by: Rumi (translated Coleman Barks) – Used with permission by Maypop Books
Duration: 4:00

The Third Person (2010)*
Duration: 6:30
Scored for trumpet, tenor sax, piano, bass, drums

(Riding a Moose in) Al-Andalus (2010)*
Duration: 6:00
Scored for oboe, soprano sax, tenor sax, piano, bass, drums

Corazón de Algodón (2008)*
Duration: 3:15
Scored for tenor sax, guitar, piano, bass, drums 

Commercial

Strongest i'll ever be (2016)*
Documentary film about Anthony Carbajal, a photographer with ALS
by: Phil Ebiner
Awards/Festivals: Best of the Month in June at the Hollywood International Independent Documentary Awards (2017), Best Documentary at the 2017 Ouchy Film Awards, SF Shorts Film Festival (2017), Sacramento Film and Music Festival (2017), D.C. Shorts Film Festival (2017), Newport Beach Film Festival (2017)
Duration: 16:31
Produced by Video School Online

Sanctuary (2016)*
Documentary film about the American anti-abortion movement's expansion into Mexico
by: Ethan Bien
Duration: 23:37 (two cues by me)

The Trouble with Bread (2013)*
Documentary film about the rise of processed wheat products and their affect on consumer health
by: Maggie Beidelman
Awards/Festivals: Cine Golden Eagle Award (2013), United Nations Association Film Festival Official Selection (2015), Life Sciences Film Festival Official Selection (2015), Santa Barbara Film Festival (2014), Thin Line Film Fest (2014), Mill Valley Film Festival (2013), Heartland Film Festival (2013), Sacramento Film Festival (2013)
Scored for string quintet, wind quintet, piano, accordion, percussion
Duration: 25:00

Zoo Runner (2013)*
iOS Game (free)
Produced in Ableton Live
Duration: 3:00 loop, 1:00 loop

Indeed Inc. (2015)
Theme song for upcoming podcast of popular job search app
Performed by Nick Benavides and Kyle Sampson

Arrangements

Manhã de Carnaval/Black Orpheus (2018, in progress)
Arranged for Left Coast Chamber Ensemble
www.leftcoastensemble.org
Composer: Luis Bonfá
Scored for flute, oboe, string quartet

Masquerade Suite (2016)*
Arranged for Nomad Session
www.nomadsession.org  
Composer: Aram Khachaturian
Scored for wind octet (fl/ob/cl/bsn/hn/tpt/tbn/tba)

Six Bagatelles (2014)*
Arranged for Splinter Reeds
www.splinterreeds.com
Composer: Gyorgy Ligeti
Scored for reed quintet (ob/cl/b.cl/bsn/sax)
Performance permission from publisher but no recording permission.

Hallelujah (2009)*
Arranged for SCU Supertonic
https://www.facebook.com/scsupertonic/
Original by: Leonard Cohen
Scored for SATB Choir

Do ya think I'm sexy? (2009)*
Arranged for SCU Supertonic
https://www.facebook.com/scsupertonic/
Original by: Rod Stewart
Scored for SATB Choir