here and there and then and now
for piano trio + dance (2027)
c. 20 minutes
“here and there and then and now” was commissioned by ensemble vim as part of their Spark2 program. It received its unofficial premiere with students at the Curtis Institute of Music on December 10, 2026 at the Field Concert Hall in Philadelphia, PA. It received its official premiere with ensemble vim, with choreography by Lauri Stallings and movement by the artists of the glo platform in Atlanta, GA on February 9, 2027.
Movements:
Stoop Scenes — [c. 3 minutes]
Whispersoft— [c.6 minutes]
Grind-Brew-Pour — [c. 4 minutes]
The Sun Sets on a Park Bench — [c. 7 minutes]
What happened to the concept of the “third place”? I could remember when I was in elementary and middle school, always having to wait multiple hours for my mother to pick me up after she was done with work. This was no issue, however. My friends and I always had a safe place to go. The library, the park, the coffee shop, the card game shop. There was always an abundance of locations for us to hang out at in public. We were able to mingle with staff workers and others at these venues. This was when community felt it was well curated solely by the existence of places that we can always go to. We were never a nuisance (at least, not any more than anyone else our age is), and we always had fun and made friends around the area.
This no longer feels like the case. Everywhere wants your money for the most basic of human functions such as having a seat. Most places don’t even have a public restroom. Even my park district began barring alumnus from public games and the field house once they stopped paying for the program. Yet, everyone wonders why the youth has nowhere to go and misbehave in the streets. It is such a betrayal on the community, in particular innocent young people, to withhold spaces for everyone to enjoy through financial circumstances. “here and there and then and now” is an homage to the many places that helped make my childhood into a better, safer place. From the comfort of the school after hours, to the library, the local coffee shops, and lastly the park where I have probably spent the largest chunk of my life.