CHRONOLOGY
1975
Born in Maryland (USA)
1980
Began taking private guitar lessons at Christy’s Music in Westminster, MD. Began writing songs in elementary school.
1990
Attended The Walden School summer music program for composing.
1991
Attended the Boston University Tanglewood Institute for music composition.
1993
Graduated from Baltimore School for the Arts (high school, guitar major)
Awarded First Prize - Alan Tyndall Hutchinson Young Composers Competition of George Washington University
1995
Awarded BMI Foundation Student Composer Award
Awarded First Prize - Alan Tyndall Hutchinson Young Composers Competition of George Washington University
Premiere of “Lunacy Tunas” by the Contemporary Music Forum of Washington, DC with Washington Post saying it “showed evidence of a vibrant and nimble musical imagination.”
1996
Awarded Howard Hanson Orchestra Prize (Eastman School of Music)
Premiere of “Lunacy Tunas” by the Contemporary Music Forum of Washington, DC with Washington Post saying it “showed evidence of a vibrant and nimble musical imagination.”
Awarded Howard Hanson Large Ensemble Prize (Eastman School of Music) - Graduated (BM) Eastman School of Music
1997
Awarded Grand Prize, BMG/Williams College National Young Composers Competition
Awarded Howard Hanson Large Ensemble Prize (Eastman School of Music) - Graduated (BM) Eastman School of Music
Alternate for Rome Prize, American Academy in Rome
1998
Awarded the BMI/Young Musicians Foundation “Debut” Orchestra premiere for “Wrought Hocket”
Alternate for Rome Prize, American Academy in Rome
Premiere of “Woodlawn Drive” by Aspen Contemporary Ensemble
1999
Regents Fellow, University of Michigan School of Music
Premiere of “Woodlawn Drive” by Aspen Contemporary Ensemble
Awarded the Boudleaux Bryant Fund commission from BMI Foundation for Eighth Blackbird - Graduated (MM) University of Michigan School of Music
2000
Awarded second BMI Foundation Student Composer Award
Awarded the Boudleaux Bryant Fund commission from BMI Foundation for Eighth Blackbird - Graduated (MM) University of Michigan School of Music
2001
Premiere of “Lament: Johnny Cadence” by Dogs of Desire
Premiere of “The Glam Seduction” by Eighth Blackbird
2003
Graduated (DMA) University of Michigan School of Music
Premiere of “The Glam Seduction” by Eighth Blackbird
2007
Performed Steve Reich “Electric Counterpoint” at Smithsonian Institute Hirshhorn Gallery
2008
Premiere of “DACCA:DECCA: GaFfA” with New Music Detroit
2009
Co-Awarded first prize in the League of Composers/ISCM Composers’ Competition
2010
Electric Guitar Concerto soloist with Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini (Italy)
Electric Guitar concerto soloist at Cabrillo Festival of New Music
2011
Named California Symphony “Young American Composer-in-residence”
Electric Guitar concerto soloist at Cabrillo Festival of New Music
2012
Premiere of “Optima Vota” with California Symphony
Premiere of “Violet Bond: Concerto-overture for electric guitar and orchestra” with California Symphony - “21207: Chamber Music of D. J. Sparr” released on Centaur Records - Artist-in-Residence at Yaddo Artist Community
2013
Premiere of “Approaching Ali” with Washington National Opera
Premiere of “Violet Bond: Concerto-overture for electric guitar and orchestra” with California Symphony - “21207: Chamber Music of D. J. Sparr” released on Centaur Records - Artist-in-Residence at Yaddo Artist Community
Electric Guitar Soloist with New World Symphony
2014
Premiere of “Dreams of the Old Believers” with California Symphony
Electric Guitar Soloist with New World Symphony
2015
Premiere of “On This Muddy Water” by Houston Grand Opera (HGOco)
Premiere of “…to me from the earth…” with North Carolina Symphony and New Music Raleigh
2016
Premiere of “Katrina: Concerto for Jazz Guitar and Orchestra” with Arkansas Symphony
Premiere of “…to me from the earth…” with North Carolina Symphony and New Music Raleigh
Premiere of “Nullipara” with Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble
2018
Electric guitar concerto soloist on London Symphony Orchestra and JoAnn Falletta’s album “Spiritualist” which won GRAMMY® for Best Classical Compendium (Naxos records)
Premiere of “Nullipara” with Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble
Electric Bands named one of “The 100 Best Recordings of 2019” by Ted Gioia
2019
Electric Bands released on Innova Records
Electric Bands named one of “The 100 Best Recordings of 2019” by Ted Gioia
2020
Hard Metal Cantüs released on Innova Records
2021
Premiere of “A Bell Inside A Bell Outside A Bell” with Soli Ensemble
2022
Premiere of “The Art of Our Healers” by Washington Master Chorale (Co-commission with Houston Grand Opera)
2023
Premiere of “Modern Yesterdays” co-composition with Kaki King, by American Composers Orchestra at Carnegie Hall