COMPOSITIONS - Vocal
" . . . music . . . wrenchingly touching . . . dazzlingly exciting . . . " Newhouse Newspapers
Voice - Choral
Bring America Together
Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep (SATB) (lyrics by by Mary Elizabeth Frye)
Reach for the Sky (SATB) (lyrics by Dale Johnson) 2' 50"
Walk Softly (SATB) (Shaker hymn - Anonymous) 3' 18"
When All the Laughter Dies in Sorrow (SATB) (lyrics by Kendrew Lascelles) 2' 25"
Voice - Solo
Birth is a Beginning (based on poem “Life is a Journey” by Rabbi Alvin Fine)
Mezzo Soprano - Donna Breitzer
Pianist - Grant Wenaus
Epitaph (poem by Merrit Malloy); performed by Christian Mark Gibbs, pianist Mark Wagner
Bury Me in a Free Land (voice and jazz quartet) (lyrics by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper)
Home Sweet Home/God Bless Our Native Land (voice and jazz quartet) (lyrics by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper)
Lift Every Voice and Sing (voice and jazz quartet) (lyrics by James Weldon Johnson)
She Walks In Beauty - poem by George Gordon Byron (tenor and piano)
Written for this terrific singer, Christian Mark Gibbs. Mark Wagner is the accompanist.
Miracle of LIght - a new song about the deeper meaning of Chanukah. Sung by Cantor Ayelet Porzecanski.
The Measure of a Person (voice and piano or guitar) (lyrics by Anonymous) 2' 40"
Mezzo Soprano - Donna Breitzer
Guitarist - Kevin Sherwin
Silent Prayer (soprano and chamber ensemble) (lyrics by Anonymous)
Soliloquy (baritone and piano): Opening number for chamber opera The Cask of Amontillado (based on the short story by Edgar Allan Poe) 4’ 22”
Baritone is David Murray
Pianist is Mark Wagner
Thank God For Little Children (voice and jazz quartet) (lyrics by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper)
A Grain of Sand (voice and jazz quartet) (lyrics by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper)
Cabaret & Theatre Songs
" . . . upbeat dance numbers and songs of dreams for the future . . . " The Villager
" . . . big Broadway sound with a catchy insistent rhythm . . . a now sound . . . " Back Stage
(unless otherwise indicated, lyrics are by me)
Ask Me No Questions, I'll Tell You No Lies (lyrics by Dale Johnson)
A Little Place Called Earth
Contest Degenerate - An up-tempo comedic solo sung by a bored housewife who gleefully confesses her obsession with entering every contest she can find. From cereal box sweepstakes to radio call-ins, she revels in the thrill of the win—and the ridiculousness of it all. It’s quirky, energetic, and full of shameless fun.
Do You Still Think of Me?
Early Autumn (lyrics by Eben Keyes) - A ballad in which an older person sings with quiet strength and hope. Though youth has passed, their heart still longs for connection. The song affirms that love is timeless—and they are still open to giving and receiving it.
Fantasies I and II (lyrics by Roberto Monticello and Laurence Dresner)
I Won't Give Him My Tears - A fierce, emotionally charged song sung by a woman scorned. This is not a ballad of regret; it’s a declaration of strength, independence, and refusal to be fooled again.
I Won't Live Without His Love (Duet) (lyrics by Dale Johnson)
If I Could Paint Our Love (Duet) (lyrics by Dale Johnson)
I'm Not Really Dressed Without A Man (lyrics by Nelson Jewell)
It Will All Work Out (lyrics by Nelson Jewell)
I’ve Been Through That Town Before - An up-tempo, gritty rocker sung by a woman who’s seen it all when it comes to love. With sharp wit and driving rhythm, she calls out the familiar signs of heartbreak and false promises. She's not falling for it again—she’s been down that road, through that town, and she’s not turning back.
Mistakenly Taken (lyrics by Allen Dion) - performed by Christian Mark Gibbs; pianist Mark Wagner
Monsters Beneath My Bed - A song where a parent reflects on the fears and challenges of raising a child. The “monsters” symbolize both the child’s worries and the parent’s own doubts, as they navigate love, protection, and the uncertainties of parenthood.
Lyrics and Music by Laurence Dresner; performed by Stephany Goulart
Something's Not Right
There Won't Be Any Band (lyrics by Eben Keyes) - An older person reflects that while their love may not come with fireworks or fanfare, it does runs deep and true. With wisdom and calm, they share a kind of love built on presence, patience, and lasting devotion—no parade, no grand gestures, just something real.
To Have Had A Son (lyrics by Allen Dion)
Where Do We Go From Here?
Scores are available from Alry Publications, Scorevivo, Subito Music Corp., and Laurence Dresner.