Program Note: Emergent Machine was commissioned by the Weill Cornell Music and Medicine Initiative Orchestra, which is composed of medical students and professionals who live in New York and are passionate about music. In my interactions with the orchestra at their previous concerts, their pure pleasure in performing music was quite refreshing. As a full-time musician, I am fortunate to be able to do what I love every day, but the drawback is that my passion of course becomes synonymous with my job and work. For the musicians in the Music and Medicine Initiative, they were taking full pleasure in what is a rare pleasure for them to spend their time playing in an orchestra. It made me think about how each of these people enriches others’ lives each day through medicine. Accordingly, Emergent Machine is inspired by the swift advancement of medical technology over the last two decades and how medical professionals of all kinds have used this technology to enrich the lives of their patients, including several members of my family and several close friends.

Commisioned By: The Weill Cornell Music and Medicine Orchestra.

Premiere: The Weill Cornell Music and Medicine Orchestra led by conductor Yuga Cohler in Peter Jap Sharpe Theatre. Wind Ensemble version premiered by the SUNY Fredonia Concert Band led by Raymond Stewart.