World Premiere of Peace is Every Step

Like many, I felt the departure of Thich Nhat Hanh in January on a particularly deep level. While I wouldn’t describe myself as a particularly spiritual person, I have long respected his writings and admired his approach to existing within a turbulent world.

It was around that time that Convergence received an invite from KMFA to present a half-hour program as part of their birthday celebration. Soon thereafter, I began composing a 30-minute work, not really sure where I was headed with it (this is normal for me as a composer, and frequently part of the discovery process… “what does this piece wish to be?”). When Russia invaded Ukraine in February, I began to realize that the composition was entering WWTNHD (what would Thich Nhat Hanh do?) territory, quite without my meaning it to happen. 

Today, Peace is Every Step received its premiere in the Draylen Mason Studio at KMFA, and I couldn’t be more proud of my Convergence peeps. Many thanks to Alexa Capareda (dance), Katrina Saporsantos (soprano), Benjamin Dia (piano), and the wonderful crew of singers for bringing so much meaning and joy to this piece. And many thanks to KMFA and the fantastically receptive audience for letting us share our work.

I’ll share the video once we’ve finished editing it, though — being a half-hour long composition — this process may take us a while.