a beautiful boy

text from "You Are Jeff" by Richard Siken Commissioned by Choral Arts Initiative for the 2022 Project|PREMIERE Festival from the composer: "the text for a beautiful boy comes from Richard Siken's 'You Are Jeff.' i have never forgotten the way that i felt when i first read this poem, like someone had finally captured these crystal clear images in my head and in my heart with words. it is my hope that through this setting, i can further elaborate those feelings into music and begin to understand them."