I had the privilege of spending a month in Monson, ME as part of the writer’s residency at Monson Arts.

The program was one of the most incredible experiences of my creative life, and I felt deeply energized connecting to the other artists in my cohort and with the administrators of the program.

My main project in residency was to complete an essay on my Regenerate practice, which you can read here. The essay outlines my reasoning for building a creative practice that diverged in significant ways from mainstream classical music practices.

The essay makes a case for re-centering human connection and community-building as the foundation of a new kind of classical music, and outlines a list of guiding principals for those wishing to steer their own practice in a more regenerative direction. The essay can serve as a guide to others interested in produce regenerative music events in their own community.

Inspired by the vivid beauty of the central Maine landscape in early winter, I also started work on what would become Stick Season, a love letter to the town of Monson and its environs.