Church musicians come in all sizes when it comes to background and training. Some have professional degrees in music, while others have...

October brought Joan and I to Houghton University in western New York, to attend the annual conference of the Christian Fellowship of Art...

A New Work for Clarinet Clarinetist Stacy Smith, a member of the instrumental faculty at Xavier University and I are embarking on a new...

I am working to find more opportunities to present my music locally, here in Cincinnati. Here are a couple of examples…… My dear friend...

Borrowing a phrase from the Kelce brothers, here are some new and interesting developments…. Come, Beloved of the Maker has been accepted...

One of William Shakespeare’s famous “problem plays” is about to receive a unique treatment. On November 9-11, 2023, the Heidelberg...

The next major step in my CD project took place in September, as Langston’s Lot was recorded at Stone Soup Studios, in Maumee Ohio. Mark...

From left: Roderick George, tenor; Jackie Edwards Henry, piano; Gail Levinsky, alto saxophone Stage two of my upcoming CD release took...

After months of planning, my CD recording project is off and running! In early July, I travelled to Laramie, Wyoming with Mark Bunce, my...

June brought the first event of what promises to be a very busy summer for my composition work. On June 21-23, I attended a music...

Songs of Celebration, a three-movement work that commemorates the Easter and Pentecost seasons, will have its Cincinnati premiere on...

For those of you who are in the greater Cincinnati area: Joan and I would like to invite you to Joan’s solo recital, the first one she...

Hey, I made the cut! Heidelberg University has provided me with a new title: Professor Emeritus of Composition and Music. The honor was...

Work continues on the Heidelberg production of Eurydice, by Sarah Ruhl, directed by my good friend and colleague, David Cotter. The cast...

Jean Raoux, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Even in retirement, I intend to continue my work as a composer. Coming in February 2022:...

Two years, ago, soprano Carol Dusdieker and I began a long-term project; to develop a body of song based on the poetry of Sara Teasdale....

From left: John Fidial, Chi-Chen Wu, Josh Heaney, Seth Innis, Gail Levinsky, Cynthia Ramsdell, Jackie Edwards Henry, Doug, Carol...

Program Notes Doug McConnell, composer October 3, 2021 Video Connection: Heidelberg School of Music and Theatre Facebook Pablo’s Waltz...

The Helios Trio: John Fidial, violin, Beth Vanderborgh, cello, and Chi-Chen Wu, piano, after a very successful Heidelberg recital....

You know the story if you live in this country. On May 25, 2020, a Minneapolis police officer ended the life of George Floyd during an...

For many years, I have read and enjoyed the poetry of Sara Teasdale. Her overall style is most lyric, one that lends itself to musical...

Heidelberg graduate Ben Lupo wanted to commission a choral work for his a cappella choir at Bryan High School in Bryan, Ohio. Ben was one...

One play explores the depths of darkness and tragedy. The other playfully undermines our expectations of love and war. To create music...

When Joan and I first arrived in Tiffin in the summer of 2000, Bob and Donna Overholt became two of our newest friends. They welcomed us...

Almost 20 years after Langston’s Lot, my first song cycle on the poetry of Langston Hughes, my dear friends and colleagues Gail Levinsky...

With Organist Tony Williams, after the concert My association with the Southeastern Composers Forum goes back to 1990, when I was a new...

I have always enjoyed my time in theatre, either as a music director or as a composer. During my years at Heidelberg. I have worked with...

Joan was invited by Pastor Don Loving, of Milan Presbyterian Church, in Milan, Ohio, to give an organ recital in honor of the...

Doug, Melissa, Allison It was an honor to have my Four States of Mind, for oboe and piano presented at the annual conference of the...

After months of simple rehearsals, Bill Reyer and I gave our Palm Sunday vocal program, an evening of favorite songs, selected and...

Joan and I would like to thank the congregation of Trinity Presbyterian Church, in Kenton Ohio, for inviting Joan to present a solo organ...

Liesl and John Hunnemann (both Berg grads,) Mark and Bob Applebaum, Joan and Doug Well, it took about 17 years of dreaming, but it...

My thanks and gratitude to friends and colleagues Jos Milton, tenor, Adam Estes, saxophone and Stacy Rodgers, piano for a wonderful...

I'm not sure, but my music may have made its Oklahoma debut last night, thanks to the efforts of a good friend and colleague. Melissa...

More than 20 years ago, I was asked to write a new composition for tenor voice, alto saxophone and piano by Gail Levinsky and Jackie...

I'm very proud of my composition student, Caleb Adams, who made a very successful presentation of his multi-media work, War Over Hill, at...

Saturday, October 22nd was a highly significant day for one of my dearest friends, Jodi Nicholson Keith, who was accepted into the...

The project started out so simply. I read a brief and humorous poem, by my good friend and colleague, Dr. William Reyer. Part of it is...

Summers are for fun, relaxation, and special rehearsals! I am using the summer months to complete my latest song-cycle, Langston’s Lot:...

There is something about the poetry of Langston Hughes that makes me want to write for voice! The simplicity and directness of the...

Last fall, Heidelberg Theater Director Chris Tucci and I discussed a possible collaboration for a non-traditional presentation of...

It has been much too long since I last had a chance to really “get away” to do some serious writing! My last sabbatical from school was...

Joan and I enjoyed a couple of days at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where Joan presented a noon-time...