My first experience at Studio X! We recorded my theme for a romantic comedy project, written for strings and solo sax. 

Opening night of the big show! 

This was my senior thesis at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. "Why are so many wonderful smart guys single?" and "why are so many men who dance tango... also engineers?" These are questions that brought me and a miss J.W. to write this show, to explore such topics as love, dance, passion, math, purpose, and social skills. Features the Michigan Argentine Tango Club in a big dance number!

You can watch the full show premier here!

"What I saw tonight made me feel what all great art does - a full range of human emotional experience. From real sentiment, to gay levity, to thoughtful comment, it included, as life does, and in proportion, comedy, drama, romance and satire. For while comedy is not dramatic, and drama may not be romantic, and satire may be none of these, they are elements which make up the materials of our daily lives (to be engineer-y about it). It's Momentum's whole feeling of naturalistic representation of life which I find elevating and joyous." 

- Matthew De Genaro (Ann Arbor tango dancer, and sculptor)

Momentum - A Tango Musical

My senior thesis at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. "Why are so many wonderful smart guys single?" and "why are so many men who dance tango... also engineers?" These are questions that brought me and a miss J.W. to write this show, to explore such topics as love, dance, passion, math, purpose, and social skills. Features the Michigan Argentine Tango Club in a big dance number!

You can watch the full show premier here!

University of Michigan School of Music and Dance: Student Composers Recital! Featuring the collaborative performance of the undergraduate composers for the improvised soundtrack to the silent film "The Devilish Tennant."

"Tu Ayem" for solo flute, performed by Zachary Weiss, at the First United Methodist Church of Dekalb (321 Oak St., Dekalb, IL).

M-agination, the short film student-organaization at the University of Michigan, presents their annual film festival! Two short films at the festival were scored by Rena Steed: "A Run with Fate," directed by Brian Krasnick, and "Theater Piece," directed by Matthew Montgomery and Ben Corona.

The work "Shaded" for Tuba and French Horn, performed by Dan Remme and Charlie Mann.

Performance of "Towhee's Carol" written for the bride and groom.

Piano compositions by Roosevelt's Student composers. All pieces performed by students in the piano department in the CCPA.

Rena's piece "Go and do Good Things" performed by pianist Tong Lui.

This event marks the last composition recital for the 2011-12 school year.

Tu Ayem, for solo flute

Flutist: Forrest Ransburg

This event was made possible by the Roosevelt University Student Composers Forum

Two works for solo piano: Dance For A Clock Tower, Keyholes

Pianist: Parvesh Java

Two pieces for solo voice and piano: With Every Morn, Strange

Daina Fischer (Sop.)

Emily Kolenda (Sop.)

John Amar Velasco (pno.)

With Every Morn, for solo voice and piano

John Amar Velasco (pno.)

Emily Kolenda (Sop.)

World Premiere of the documentary "Visceral: Transforming Trauma Through Theater."

Directed by Amy Erickson

Music by Rena Poling