Song of the Sikuliaq

Song of the Sikuliaq is a vocalise for mezzo-soprano and chamber orchestra written for the dedication of the research vessel Sikuliaq in the summer of 2012 for the University of Alaska’s School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Dean Mike Castellini and Assistant Dean Rolf Gradinger worked tirelessly to help me win this commission. Chris Rose and Kaylee Bonatakis both were instrumental in the creation of this piece also playing in its premiere, trumpet and percussion, respectively. Mezzo-soprano, Marlene Bateman, and the Arctic Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Eduard Zilberkant premiered the Song of the Sikuliaq in the autumn of 2012. This page is dedicated to the photos and multi-media that accompanied the writing and premiere of this piece. Song of the Sikuliaq is housed in the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library Alaska and Polar Regions Collections & Archives. At my request it has been made available to anyone who would like to perform it, free of charge.