Write Your Own Way is a piece about the self—about what it means to be an artist, a musician, and a human being. It explores themes of self-discovery, reflection, and maturation through synthesizing the musical styles and characteristics of the saxophone which sparked my initial interest in becoming a musician: the saxophone’s lyricism and likeness to the human voice, post-minimalism’s treatment of rhythm and motive, and the expressive virtuosity of early Romantic-era piano music. I approached writing this work in a nonlinear, organic way, allowing the music to unfold naturally and assume its own identity while I simply guided it along, drawing a parallel between the development of the music and the growth of my own artistic identity.

This piece is cast in four movements, each depicting a different aspect of self-discovery. The first movement, "Tethered Sway," is a brooding, dark dance wishing to cast aside its self-imposed limitations. "Unabashed" is an off-kilter, naive and overconfident scherzando. "The Weight of Calm" respects and admires the process of gaining wisdom through overcoming personal challenges. The final movement, "Machine Jam," is a return to form inspired by the experiences that set the journey of self-discovery in motion.