Home: South Bend, IN. Age: 54. Birthplace: Richmond, VA. Profession: Music educator. Title: Dr. (Doctor of Musical Arts). Significant other: Mika Brunson. Alma mater: Brigham Young University (BMus, MMus); University of Nevada Las Vegas (DMA).
Current project: Preparing my music for publication. Recent recognition: Presenter at the 2025 annual International Conductors Guild Conference at the Royal College of Music in London. Latest contribution to others: Regularly volunteering at my church, donating my time and talents. Hobbies: Reading, hiking, biking; writing and arranging music. Recent travel or adventure: London. I have been many times and love being in England. Recent unique acquisition: Books by, on, or about J.R.R. Tolkien.
Personality profile: Considerate, earnest, thoughtful, kind, determined, compassionate. Moral compass: Does this action increase or decrease love and compassion in the world? How do you define a perfect friendship? Regardless of how much time has passed, you can pick up the phone or get together and it’s like no time has passed at all. What is your greatest joy? Seeing what incredible people my children have become. What is your guilty pleasure? Watching reruns of the 1978 show Battlestar Galactica and other sci-fi series from the 80s. What is at the top of your bucket list? Visiting Cotswolds, the Lake District, and Wales. Then, Italy and Spain, as well as returning to Jerusalem. How do you relieve stress? Reading or listening to music, especially that of Beethoven, Vaughan Williams, or Brahms .
What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? Pictures of medieval English castles and churches. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? My first conducting teacher, Dr. Clyn Barrus. What’s the best advice you received growing up? My grandfather regarding my desire to study music: “I’d rather have you poor and happy than rich and miserable.” What’s the best advice you received in your career? Make friends with the custodial staff. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? Indoor plumbing followed closely by air conditioning. What is your go-to source of creative inspiration? Finding a text or poem I like, then sitting at the piano and playing around with the words until I come up with a good melody and harmonic progression. What personal circumstance has had the greatest influence on your life? Serving my LDS mission in England in the early 90s.
What is your big idea?
I have been researching the similarities between the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien and the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams.
What change would you like to see in the world? More people willing to listen and understand different points of view, and different perspectives from their own. What widely held belief do you reject? That science and religion are mutually exclusive. What mega-trend most concerns you? The development of Artificial intelligence.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? He Did the Best He Knew How. Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A teacher. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? Any instruments: my French horn, the piano. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? Visiting friends. What advice would you give your younger self? Trust your own intuition. Don’t let outside forces dictate how you should live your life, or what paths you should pursue.
Favorite quote: “Facts are always more flexible than opinions” (Hugh Nibley). Desired epitaph: He did the best he knew how.
