Program Notes
Fearless (2025) sonically celebrates the joy of curiosity, the significance of wonder, and the importance of both inward reflection and outward exploration. Weaving text by the composer with quotes from American astronomer, librarian, naturalist, and educator Maria Mitchell and pioneering physicist and chemist Marie Curie, this work evokes hope and courage through shimmering timbres and lush choral moments. By lyrically connecting the local and the global, our immediate surroundings and the universe, Fearless illustrates how one person's discoveries and kindness can affect the world around them.
Additional Information
Fearless was commissioned by the University of Nebraska Omaha in celebration of the 20th anniversary of their School of Music.
Text
All the things you are,
Planted, rooted, grounded—
Take in the vastness of the universe:
The alchemy of goldenrod and honey,
Of meadowlarks and agate,
A chemistry of cottonwood and wonder.
Nothing in life is to be feared,
It is only to be understood.
Now is the time to understand more
So that we may fear less.
Notes on the Text and Attributions
“Do not look at stars as bright spots only. Try to take in the vastness of the universe.”
— Maria Mitchell (American astronomer, librarian, naturalist, and educator)
“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”
—Marie Curie (pioneering physicist and chemist)
Nature elements included in this text allude to the natural beauty of Nebraska through its state symbols. They are:
Goldenrod: state flower
Honey: nod to the state insect, the honeybee
Meadowlark: state bird
Agate: state rock
Cottonwood: state tree
Thank you to the University of Nebraska Omaha for commissioning Fearless and to Kinsmen Sound Studio for collaborating on
the electronics for this work.
Media