Artistic Statement

In times of uncertainty and unrest—where pain and suffering color the experiences of many—I consider myself fortunate to devote valuable time, energy, and resources to something as seemingly selfish as the high art of music. Regardless of circumstance, I believe that music has the power to help us transcend our situation, transforming not only our perspectives but also our actions and very selves. Vocal music, in particular, has this capacity because it is the empathy inherent in the human voice—the most personal of instruments—that connects us so deeply to our shared humanity. The endless possibilities of color, tone, text declamation, articulation, and expression profoundly affect both the singer and the listener. When combined with the artistry of an exceptional composer, vocal music becomes an unparalleled vehicle for emotional transformation and healing.

As the German philosopher Dietrich von Hildebrand observed, beauty “opens our hearts, inviting us to transcendence and leading us conspectum Dei—before the face of God.” This aesthetic vision deeply motivates and inspires me. As performers, we provide antidotes to the world’s uncertainty and unrest, offering more than temporary illusions of peace or fleeting musical pleasure. Instead, we create profound opportunities for introspection, contemplation, and the cultivation of character. While I will always choose to perform music that satisfies both intellectually and emotionally, I am driven by the belief that music can transform all who encounter it—conductor, singer, and audience alike. It is this power of transformation that propels me beyond my love of music for its own sake.

Having lived in Spain, Venezuela, and various parts of the United States, I remain open to all forms of spirituality—or even the absence of it. I deeply resonate with the universal spirituality expressed by modern composer Arvo Pärt, who once stated that people do not fully understand "how strongly music influences us for good or ill. You can kill people with sound. And if you can kill, then there must be sound that is the opposite of killing. The distance between these two points is vast. And you are free—you can choose."

I choose to elevate humanity through the balance of well-crafted music—past, present, and future—that fosters introspection, laughter, empathy, harmony, and transformation of character. This process informs every aspect of my work, from programming repertoire to rehearsing with singers and performing for audiences. Voice to voice, human to human, musician to musician, we dedicate countless hours to the art of music because it is worthy of such devotion. In times of uncertainty and pain, the world needs the very best that music can offer.