2025 NCCO Conference with Biola University Chorale

Still feeling the high from attending the 2025 NCCO Conference especially after hearing the Biola University Chorale’s all-Maniano set! The group has performed several of my works over the past few years, so it was incredibly special to finally meet them, hear them live, and work with them in person for the very first time. Experiencing the world premiere of In the Shadow of Your Wings was an added thrill and a truly unforgettable moment. Hearing the piece come alive in person—shaped by human voices rather than MIDI—was surreal, a powerful reminder of the irreplaceable human touch in music

I’m deeply grateful to Dr. Shawna Stewart for programming my music and for her exceptional leadership in preparing the choir. My heartfelt thanks also go to the singers for their commitment, artistry, and hard work. I know my pieces aren’t easy, but in short span of time, the Chorale delivered a truly remarkable and heartwarming performance.

It was also a wonderful time meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends—especially finally meeting in person some conductors who have performed my works over the years and whom I had previously known only by name. It was truly a pleasure to talk with them and put faces to those familiar names. Overall, it was a wonderful and meaningful experience.

#DeoGratias!

During workshop with the talented and deeply eager singers of the Biola Chorale. Two hours simply wasn’t enough—yet it was a genuinely rewarding and inspiring time together.