for clarinet, violin, cello, and piano
Study of Snowflakes is written for Unheard-of//Ensemble and is inspired by my reflections on Christmas of 2024. I was thinking about how the holidays can bring a heightened sense of pressure and loneliness for many people. Wilson Bentley’s famous images of snowflakes, with their endless diversity of shapes, reminded me of how unique our life experiences are and how fragile our emotions can be. Their fleeting beauty serves as a reminder to pause and appreciate small moments of happiness — moments that help us endure even the most difficult times.
Premiered at Red Note New Music Festival on March 26th, 2025 in Normal, IL.
Duration: 8′
Performance History:
- March 26, 2025 — World Premiere: Red Note New Music Festival, Normal, Illinois, USA. Performed by Unheard-of//Ensemble: Ford Fourqurean (clarinet), Matheus Souza (violin), Andrew Janss (cello), and Daniel Anastasio (piano).
- October 4, 2025 — Eugene Difficult Music Ensemble New Music Festival, Whirled Pies, Eugene, Oregon, USA. Performed by Victor Lawton II (clarinet), Zoe Oda (violin), Adrian Cervantes (cello), and JP Lempke (piano).
- January 30, 2026 — FSU Festival of New Music, Opperman Music Hall, Florida State University College of Music, Tallahassee, Florida, USA. Performed by Dawson Huynh (clarinet), Anthony Zamora (violin), Barbara Santiago (cello), and Turner Sperry (piano).