Per National Geographic, “A caldera is a large depression formed when a volcano erupts and collapses.” With this piece, I wanted create a soundscape that captured the life cycle of a caldera - In particular, I was captivated by the majesty of the expansive Yellowstone Caldera, having formed as a result of several explosive eruptions over millions of years.

In January 2026, “Caldera” was announced as a winner of JMU’s New Music for Orchestra Competition. JMU’s Symphony Orchestra premiered the piece on Sunday, April 26th, 2026. The premiere performance is available here to view, as well as the score video with MIDI below.