Canyon Canticles (2026)

commissioned by Trio Menil
with generous support from the Houston Arts Alliance

dedicated to Zion National Park

In February of 2026, I was fortunate to be the Artist-in-Residence at Zion National Park. I spent three transformative weeks among towering red sandstone cliffs, staying in the Grotto House near the trailhead for Zion’s most famous hike––Angel’s Landing.

Canyon Canticles was composed during this residency. I reflected upon how visiting Zion can be a profoundly spiritual experience for people from all faiths and religious backgrounds. As I explored the park’s many hiking trails, I often stopped in my tracks to simply take in the sights, sounds, and smells, and to enjoy the quiet solitude found in the Zion wilderness.