Mazur was a remarkable artist. During our time in Rome we became friends. I would often perform my works for him at the piano.

Part of what makes music so interesting is the lack of consensus on just about any given topic.

While I believe there is certainly a phenomenon of timelessness in art, the people writing today can comment on today in an exclusive manner.

If people want insights, if they want to swim in the currents of their own time and share the experiences of their time, then it makes sense to engage with the artists of one's own time.

I don't think performance out of duty yields very much. Coercion is never the way to go.

My own goals center around writing the best music that I can, and only I can determine whether or not I've succeeded in accomplishing that.

Just as all pop music is not simplistic, not all contemporary concert music is complex. Often what a person connects with goes much deeper than generalized issues of simplicity and complexity.

Many critics have become de facto teachers. That is a lot of responsibility, and I think it should be wielded with care. Most people appreciate sincere guidance.

The best critics leave the reader curious to pursue something further, but still to let the reader have his or her own honest, unique opinion.

A healthy dialogue is always good.

I was fortunate to work with Corigliano for a few years in the mid nineties. Meeting and working with him during those formative years was an important experience.

Your body would not get sick if you held no thought of resentment. It is neither good nor bad of itself. If we hold anything against anyone, we will suffer ourselves.

There’s a pressure at all hours of the day only a poem can assuage.

An agreeable manner may set off handsome features, but can never alter plain ones.

As fear is a close companion to falsehood, so truth follows fearlessness.

I've been more conscious of my salt intake, sugar intake, making sure I'm not eating as many processed foods.

Shame, it comes in every size, touches many lives, knocks on many doors.

Drama is easier to do because you just have to have the emotion and not get caught acting, but comedy is much harder.

I felt little awkward about taking one boyfriend to see a film starring another boyfriend.

If I love a song I hope to find a way to get other people to love it too.

And that was the way The deuce was to pay As it always is, at the close of the day That gave us