Pivotal events & people

1956 – good luck getting started on piano with a good teacher Diella Aamodt

1966 – good luck with inspiring high school band director Joe Fennie

1969 – good luck with inspiring theory and composition teacher Alvin King at Macalester, College, St. Paul, MN

1971 – good luck with rock band “Tecumseh” playing in west central Minnesota. Earlier that year I was sweethearts at Macalester College with Ellen Elias. Later she introduced me to her parents who unofficially adopted me in my grad school years. In 1984 she introduced me to Niksa Gligo, who was program director for the Zagreb Biennale.  He invited Zeitgeist to premiere John Cage’s Music for… at the 1985 Biennale. That event was the door opener for the rest of Zeitgeist’s touring activity.

1974 – good luck being accepted for studies with master teacher-player Vic Firth at New England Conservatory.  More good luck being invited to live with Peter and Marjorie Elias in Cambridge, Mass.  Pete was head of the M.I.T. computer sciences department.

1977 – good luck starting new music ensemble “Zeitgeist”

1980 – Zeitgeist’s New York City premiere at Carnegie Recital Hall.  I married Sheri Fritz.  Not only has she been a delightful companion for me, but she has been a major foundational support for my whole career.

1985 – Zeitgeist’s first European Tour including premiere performance in Zagreb with John Cage

1987 – Zeitgeist’s connecting with Terry Riley, premiering “The Vigil of the Snow Clam” at the Zagreb Biennale

1989 – good luck having drumset etudes books (3) published by Neil A. Kjos Music Co.

2000 – moving to Lincoln, Nebraska and starting a new life as freelancer/teacher

2000 – good luck hooking up with Becky Van de Bogart and the Nebraska Chamber Players

2004 – good luck having snare etude books (3) published by Neil A. Kjos Music Co.

2007 – blessed fortune establishing the Anima Christi Singers (see their page on this website)