‘The three works on this disc are related by a quirk of fate. In 2002 I was invited by David Lockington to submit a piece for possible performance opportunities. That work, the Symphonic Music for Strings and Brass, was duly performed and widely appreciated. Its success led to a commission for a piece to celebrate in the 75th anniversary in 2005 of the Grand Rapids Symphony, my first symphony.’

David Lockington has been Music Director of the Grand Rapids Symphony since January 1999. He served as associate conductor of the Baltimore Symphony from 1992. In 1993, he became music director of the Ohio Chamber Orchestra. In 1995, he assumed the title of music director of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and was music director of the Long Island Philharmonic from 1996 to 2000. He is married to violinist Dylana Jenson. They have four children and live in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The Grand Rapids Symphony was officially organized in 1930. The orchestra hired its first full-time members in 1973, under Music Director Theo Alcantara. Following Alcantara’s tenure, Music Directors Semyon Bychkov and Catherine Comet nurtured the orchestra as it grew into the second largest orchestra in the State of Michigan. On May 21, 2005, as part of its 75th Anniversary Season, the orchestra made its Carnegie Hall debut in New York City.