A Year of Challenge and Growth

It’s New Year’s Eve, and tomorrow is 2024! First and foremost, I want to give a huge shoutout and THANK YOU to all the directors, producers, animators, composers, publishers, family, and everyone who believed in me. I can’t thank you enough, and it means the world to me. As you know, I always give 110% to every project I work on, and I love making friends in the process.

There were a lot of great things that took place this year, and I’m not going to pretend, but there were more challenges thrown at me and my family than ever this year! I could have easily given in to the overwhelming schedule and not done anything this year! However, that's a choice we all have. For me, I'm a fighter and will find a way to move forward, even if it is in micro-steps. I've had to develop a new level of mental endurance this year and find new ways to push forward against all the odds.

One thing that really helped with my mental balance/mental health was physical fitness. I couldn't always take the time to go the the gym. So, I found an at-home bodyweight program that I could do each day that takes about 20 minutes. I wake up early in the morning, knock out my exercise, and begin the rest of the day. By the grace of others, family, and friends, we managed to live, run our businesses, and take care of others. WOW, what a year!

Remember...

Below are some fun highlights from the year! This is not to brag but to motivate and inspire you to find a way to move your career or business forward - even if it is in small baby or micro steps. If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.

In November 2022, I was so excited to be nominated for an HMMA award! While I didn't win, it marked an achievement that was on my goals and dream board!

Click the image to learn more about my journey that I shared with VoyageLA this year! Thank you to everyone for your support!

My next trip to LA was at the top of the 2023! Which was kicked off with the Los Angeles Film Conducting Intensive (LAFCI) (orchestrating and composing) Intensive! WOW! You may have seen a few posts about this earlier in the year! LOL. This was one of the most exciting and memorable experiences in the world of music! It was time to step back and learn from some of the greatest composers and orchestrators around - William Ross, Conrad Pope, Booker White, Angel Velez, Emily Bernstein, and Jorge Metzer.

Not too long after I returned from my adventure in LA, I had the incredible opportunity to collaborate on 'Star Wars: The Jedi Live' with Robert V. Lampkin. ?? We created an original Star Wars score for scenes from the video games Jedi Fallen Order and Jedi Survivor. I’m a huge fan of Gordy Haab, and he has done such a phenomenal job creating a score for these games that captures the sound, orchestration, and feel of Star Wars – while bringing new and fresh sounds into the score. Thanks for the water bottle instrument, Gordy! That was so creative! Also, thank you, Robert, for this amazing collaboration and friendship!

The spring was full of learning and sharing at the LevelUp Sync License/songwriter camp in Atlanta. ?? Huge thanks to Christine Mayo (Mamma C) for taking a chance and reaching out. During the camp, I met Brianna Shelko , and over the year, we became fast friends. I’m grateful for the opportunity to participate and share at the camp.?Happy 30 on the 30th! Whooot, Whoot! ??

Click the image to visit their website. Remember, they are a non-profit 501(c-3), and donations go to help continue their mission of artist training and sync licensing camps!

The Summer was a mix of achievements and challenges – My wife’s dad entered the hospital, and we were not sure if he was going to make it, but he rallied and is still with us! Yay! Just a few weeks later, he was in hospice. The good news is he is still with us but struggling. I never knew caretaking would be so emotional and a large time requirement. It is what it is, and family comes 1st! So, we are there for her mom and dad multiple times a week.

Summer did bring some good news too! I signed with two new publishers to work on albums for their catalog. I'm looking forward to getting the music out there and into TV shows, films, games, and advertising! I'm incredibly grateful to my publishers for believing in my work and working with my dynamic schedule. Also, a huge THANK YOU to my friends and family for supporting me during challenging times. ??????

The summer kept on rock with a collaboration with Brianna and Mary Kate Farm on the new single "Red Handed." This is a foot-stomp'in summer jam that is a mix of country rock, pop and hip-hop/trap. Click the image to hear the music!

Following that, I scored the Feature Film 'CONSEQUENCES,' by the super talented ANNETTE WILSON! This was our third film together, and we always have a blast collaborating! ?? We had an amazing red carpet premiere at the Silverspot Cinema! Not just one movie, but four movies in one night! What an incredible night to remember!

I was also excited because I got to meet the entire cast and crew!

In late summer, I was excited to learn that I was going to receive a Sync Titan Award from Michael Elsner and Jody Friedman. I couldn't believe it! All the hard work in creating music for sync licensing was recognized with a milestone award within the Sync Titan Community. During the year, I'm busy learning and working as much as I can because of the dynamic schedule we have. You know the head-down in the studio kind of focus. It's important to maximize the time I have available in the studio. This award was totally unexpected, and it means a lot for someone to take the time to notice all the hard work.

In the late fall, we traveled to Mississippi for a celebration of life for a family member. It was an emotional time, but it is important for the family to gather, remember, swap stories, and remember our loved ones who are no longer with us.

Then it was the beginning of winter, and family, friends, cast, and crew were together for multiple movie premiers for Thelma. Brown (Movie Night with Thelma and Friends) at the Limelight Theater in Decatur, GA. I've worked with many of these people over the years, and I can say enough good things about them. I'm happy to celebrate Thelma's achievements. One of them being she graduted from film school! WooooHooo! Go, Thelma!

Early in December, I flew to Bay 8 Studio in Miami for the final sync camp by Level Up Music Productions, Corp! What a phenomenal event!

To round out the year could not have been in a better way than with a Star Wars film project led by the immensely talented Hello There Animation Studio.

It's a reimagined epic showdown between Anakin and Obi-wan from Revenge of the Sith in the style of "The Clone Wars." This short film premiered on Friday, December 29th, 2023, at 9 pm EST / 6 pm PST. The Star Wars community that has been supporting this project came out in full force. Since its release, reaction videos and media articles have been released, and everyone is loving it and I hope you do too!

Since, about the age of three, I've been a Star Wars super fan. I'm constantly studying and practicing composing in the Star Wars style while bringing some subtle and unique hints of my composing style. So, being brought on to this project as the score producer is incredibly special. I can't say enough good things about the team that I've been working with - They rock!

CLONE WARS: BATTLE OF THE HEROES - A Star Wars Fan Animation

Click the image and watch on YouTube!

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