In the spring of 2024, James Madison University’s Opera Guild reached out to the composition studio, seeking composers for a scenes opera chronicling several legendary stories from different cultures. For the rest of that year, I collaborated with two librettists, Katherine Burgess and Damien Patterson, to bring “Children of Lir” to life. Adapted from the old Irish tale, this libretto follows Brother Mochaomhóg, a young monk, as he discovers that the swans gathering around his monastery aren't what they seem. They’re as human as he is… On April 26th, 2025 “Children of Lir” and three other opera scenes were premiered by the guild. I am forever grateful for the hard work of all who were involved in bringing this interdisciplinary collaboration to life.