Athena

Athena (2025) for orchestra sonically explores the different facets of the Greek goddess' mythology, from wisdom to warfare and owls to olive trees. Athena's main melody introduces her as a protectress and strategist, plotting, competing, and warring. But as the piece progresses, the orchestra evokes Athena's compassion and advocacy as a patron of arts and bringer of insight. Through driving, fierce rhythmic figures and pensive, shimmering textures, Athena summons both heroism and tenderness and asks how these qualities might appear in our own self-mythology. Thank you to Fouad Fakhouri and the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra for commissioning this work and for their support of new music for orchestra.