Conducting

Over the past year, we’ve been building something very special with the Strathmore Jazz Orchestra: an ensemble centered around world-class musicians, adventurous programming, and a deep commitment to the future of large ensemble jazz. Here are a few moments from performances, rehearsals, and projects along the way. Thank you to all of the musicians, guest artists, audiences, and supporters who have helped bring this vision to life. There is much more ahead.

Back in March 2026, I had the pleasure of joining Ed Smith on The Future of Jazz Podcast for a conversation about my musical journey, composing, conducting, the vision behind the Strathmore Jazz Orchestra, and JazzComposersPresent. Thank you to Ed for the invitation and the thoughtful conversation! Listen here: • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Music

I’ll be joining Ed Smith on Jazz Now on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 12:00 PM on Takoma Radio.

“The Strathmore Jazz Orchestra highlights the work and vision of one local musician.”

“There was no mistake about that at this concert as the orchestra was the beating heart of the performance.”

After taking the weekend to reflect, I wanted to share a few personal thoughts about last Friday’s concert at The Music Center at Strathmore. On February 13, I had the profound honor of conducting the inaugural performance of the Strathmore Jazz Orchestra featuring Kurt Elling. This project has been four years in the making, and opportunities of this scale centered around a large jazz ensemble are rare in the United States today. Joi Brown, Artistic Director of Strathmore,