My latest opportunity to create incidental music and sound design for the theatre has now been presented. Peter and the Star Catcher appeared on the Heidelberg Theatre stage on September 10-13, 2026. Based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Peason, and a stage version by Rick Elice, Peter functions as a sort of origin story for the legend of Peter Pan. It uses wonderful humor and poignant moments to suggest how the various characters in the Peter Pan story came into place.

Heidelberg University School of Music and Theatre 2026-2027 Mainstage Season I love working in a theatre! Not because I have acting chops (I don’t). Directing could have been my thing, as I love to take in the big picture, move the pieces around, respond to the creative ideas of others, etc. But I am a musician and a composer first and foremost; to this end, I have spent a lot of my time composing incidental music for stage productions. Modern technology makes this task muc

Carol Duskieker, Jeff Manchur, Doug McConnell Let it be forgotten, as a flower is forgotten, Forgotten as a fire that once was singing gold, Let it be forgotten for ever and ever, Time is a kind friend, he will make us old. -Sara Teasdale Some experiences will be remembered; others will be forgotten. Poet Sara Teasdale accepts forgotten memories as part of the life process. Once vivid, these memories somehow disappear into the fabric. But as we acknowledge reality, let us als

It is certainly nice to return to a piece that was composed over forty years ago! Also comforting: the piece still works! The Handbell Musicians of America, this country’s leading handbell organization, held its national seminar in Cincinnati this year. The opening concert, held at Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church featured a special worship service that demonstrated the many ways that handbells can be used in the church. I was pleased to have a piece on the anthem

Earlier this spring, Augsburg/Fortress released my latest publication, an album of pieces for organ, composed for the Christmas season. Heavenly Joy includes nine works that offer pieces for the Advent, Christmas and Epiphany seasons. Each hymn setting in this collection was composed for my wife Joan, who had first-performance dibs on each one! Now they are available for other organists to play, which is very satisfying to both of us. In our 45 years together, we have shared

News about a dear friend’s departure from this life is a difficult time. The news could come suddenly, or it might be expected. In this case, the passing of Bill Reyer, poet and teacher extraordinaire took all of us by surprise. Bill had just left his home in Tiffin to enjoy some time at his favorite place, the cabin at Burt Lake, Michigan; his partner Dave was with him. Bill and I had been in contact during that week concerning The Three Worlds, his latest published poetry

Augsburg/Fortress Press has released a new collection of my organ works, titled Heavenly Joy. The collection features settings of familiar hymn tunes that are appropriate for the Advent, Christmas and Epiphany seasons. Organists may order this new work through music stores everywhere or directly from Augsburg/Fortress Press. The link below will take you to the website where the new publication is introduced. It includes two sample performances of the 9 works that are featured

While I Run This Race: Music of Hope, Dedication and Celebration has been awarded a Bronze Medal in the Contemporary Classical Music division of the Global Music Awards. Established in 2011, by Thomas Eugene Baker, Ph.D., the Global Music Awards is a well-known international music competition which celebrates independent musicians. Global Music Awards is widely recognized by industry insiders as giving legitimacy to highly talented artists. The award honors the efforts of the

Poster design by Bri Clark It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing…..” - Macbeth , Act V, Scene 3 My recent projects for the Heidelberg School of Music and Theatre have been on the dark side, to say the least. Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure explored the depths of a would-be leader, one who wished to deprive his subjects of basic freedoms. There was some comedy on the side to balance things out, but perhaps this is why scholars refer to

Poster design by Bri Clark As a composer of theatre-based music, it is always a challenge to take on the plays of William Shakespeare. My association with director Karla Kash and the Heidelberg Theater program is giving me another chance. Two years ago, we collaborated on Measure for Measure . On November 13-16, 2025, we are taking our chances with one of the great tragedies, the so-called “Scottish play.” The real title appears above; traditional theater superstitions preven