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MMEA Electronic Music Composition Contest

I was delighted to be able to coordinate the MMEA Electronic Music Composition Contest, modeled after a similar contest hosted by NAfME. Coordinating this contest across the state of Missouri entails several steps, from publicizing the contest, creating application forms, securing judges, to hosting a final culminating awards presentation featuring the student winners (and of […]

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Clamored Cantos

I enjoyed writing a piece (the title track it turns out) for Dr. Caselman’s recital and now CD. It’s fun to see former students take music to new heights — and his journey has just begun! Check it out on Spotify, CD Baby, and/or YouTube.

Shawn Harrel’s Extreme Sports 13

I’m sorry for the delay in posting Extreme Sports episode. I got shaken up pretty good with this event. This is the closest I’ve ever come to being physically injured during an Extreme Sport Event. I was scared for my life. [embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8eRL0pEHWQ[/embedyt]

A long-anticipated weekend

I have to admit, the Harrel family has been anticipating this weekend for a long time. Long before it was even possible to imagine. The Kansas City Streetcar debuted this weekend and we eagerly joined the crowds to make sure we didn’t miss our first chance to ride. My sons asked how much it costs […]

Music Memos

Today Apple released a new app designed to help musicians get ideas out of their heads and on record. Music Memos is simple on the surface, just a recording button when you open the app, but has a lot of neat features for a first generation app. The app picks up on your tempo, analyzes your […]

Chicago 48HFP 2014

I wasn’t able to make the trip to Chicago for the 48 Hour Film Project, but I had the opportunity to work on the music remotely by harnessing the power of the Interwebs. Jason Beaumont and the rest of the cast and crew put together a great film which picked up a few awards as well. […]

Glitch

I’ve been fortunate enough to visit the Midwest Clinic in Chicago many times and one of the highlights is seeing the Chicago Symphony Brass perform. In 2013, they performed a selection of piece by Mason Bates called Alternative Energy. Roughly a month after that I heard a small band from Missouri perform a piece by […]

Chicago 48 Hour Film Project 2012

As is typically the case, A is for Amateur Productions joined forces with Group Mind Films so we could put together a bigger team for the Chicago 48HFP, supplementing our skeleton crew with actual writers and actors. We had a good time filming Knight Train and got the award for Best Costumes.