Composer

Compositions

Popper Easy Etudes, No. 11-15 (2025)

Digital Download full score
David Popper, 15 Easy Studies for Two Cellos (Studies 11-15 arr. Price), supplementary book to Popper’s 10 original duets in Op. 76a

American Cantata (2025)

Commissioned and premiered by Caroga Arts Collective

27 Steps (2023)

Commissioned and premiered by Caroga Arts Collective in partnership with Julian Muller

Awaken (2019)

Commissioned and premiered by Carpe Diem String Quartet

Echoes Ring (2018)

Commissioned and premiered by Chamber Music Connection

“Echoes Ring” features piano quintet with string orchestra and was written for the MLK Jr. 50th anniversary year of his passing. The event, “We Too Have a Dream”, featured various American composers and was an educational, community event designed to embody and spread the message of unity, friendship and Acceptance through the remembrance of the mission, life and messages of Martin Luther King Jr.

The title of the piece references an observers look at today’s context, politically, socially and culturally in the United States and across the world. Towards the end of the work, the music is paired with the end of the “I have a dream speech” to recall the beauty of our humanitarian commonality and help us re-discover our nation’s path towards the ideals that represent all citizens and people of the world. The title references the phrase in the speech, “Let Freedom Ring” and pairs the word “echo” as a recollection to the message with the relevance and potency that the message still has today in order for our nation and world to improve life for all people.

Compositionally, the work features an opening that has all musicians playing together and resting together peacefully with harmonic resolutions. As this opening statement gathers momentum, a canon featuring a few national songs begins to ricochet through the solo quartet, piano and string orchestra members. As the canon reaches all members of the orchestra the individual pride turns into shutting out other members and the tonality starts to split. One can hear this through the abruptness of the new harmonies and the lack of adjustment to find the beautiful unity once displayed.

This leads to another canon, more fiery in character, representing each section, as their own “group” (or country). Each group poses their statement against other members and the aggressiveness and separation cements through the breaking of rhythmic unison. Each solo member of the quartet takes the canonic figure and splits from the section they represent until only one member of the orchestra is left playing the figure, solo first violin. The competitiveness and aggressiveness to be the last standing leaves the solo first violin alone only accompanied by the silence of the others. The soloist then realizes what has happened and has a statement of regret and sadness, missing the company, until her line passes as well, marked by a grand pause fermata rest in the orchestra.

The orchestra re-enters on a ghostly, delicate, dynamic to harmonically mirror the first violin melody. This transitions into a final statement, marked by Martin Luther King Jr.’s beautiful message (begins at 9:05), showing the importance of unity and inclusion for all nations and peoples. The piece concludes with a recall of an excerpt of “My Country ‘Tis of thee” following the end of his speech and a coda that signifies the process towards togetherness and acceptance.

Master Speed (2017)

Premiered at University of Wisconsin-Madison
(2017, Madison, WI)

The Common Thread (2016)

Premiered by Caroga Arts Ensemble
(2016, Caroga Lake, NY)

Piece for Voice and Orchestra (2015)

Premiered by Nicole Heinen, vocalist, and Caroga Arts Ensemble
(2016, Caroga Lake, NY)

Requiem: In memory of Constance E. Barrett (2014)

Premiered at Cleveland Institute of Music
(2014, Cleveland, OH)