"When I was learning 'Birds in Winter' in 1997, I found that, as I knew it better and better, I continually found more things within it to appreciate. I played it as part of my 1998 recital, and decided to repeat it again on this year's program. Relearning it this summer, I was reminded again of how much I like the piece. It has also been very popular with the audience on both occasions." 
--Josh Layne, harpist, Victoria, B.C.

"It was such a joy to see you conduct--and I saw moments when you were really enjoying your own music! It doesn't get any better than that." 
--Joey D'Agostino, Albuquerque

"A human being is part of the whole, called by us the Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest—a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and of a foundation for inner security."
-Albert Einstein