I recently completed a piano setting of In the Bleak Midwinter, based on the tune CRANHAM by Gustav Holst. While the melody is clearly heard throughout, the surrounding textures create a sense of mystery. The piece was commissioned by a group of seven pianists, and I have included their names in the printed score, for posterity and out of gratitude. 

Click here to preview the piece! 

My newest piano hymn arrangement is available! O Great God, written by Bob Kauflin, features a very simple and folk-like melody and a chord progression that is satisfying without being too predictable. In this arrangement, I wanted to start with this harmonic simplicity, while gradually adding more pitches to increase the density of each chord, but still maintaining a diatonic language. 

Click here to preview the piece, and here to order it from Sheet Music Plus (exclusive distributor). 

Thanks!!! 

I'm grateful to the following band directors and schools for joining the consortium:

Mr. Bryan Wright 
Paschal High School (Fort Worth, TX)

Mr. Steve Willemssen 
Wheaton Academy (West Chicago, IL)

Mr. Chris Dandeles
Waubsonsie Valley High School (Aurora, IL)

Mr. Dan Braker
Thornapple Wind Band (Hastings, MI) 

Mr. Victor Anderson
Yorkville High School (Yorkville, IL) 

I'm so excited that we have groups from three different states involved!! 

I will deliver the piece to them on January 8, 2021. Hopefully…

I'm excited to announce that the Gentle Mary Laid Her Child consortium met the goal of 10 members, so the anthem will happen! Yay! 

Many, many thanks to the following commissioners who joined to form the consortium:

Bart Morrison
University Baptist Chruch (Houston, TX)

Brian Stranghoner
Tabor College (Hillsboro, KS)

Chris Winston
Immanuel Lutheran Church (Broken Arrow, OK)

Dennis Emerson
St. Michael Catholic Church (Bedford, TX)

James Cheesman
First Baptist Church of Farmersville (Farmersville, TX)

Laramie…

I'm excited to announce the release of How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds for SATB and piano, published by Lorenz Music. This is my 3rd published anthem from Lorenz, and I am overwhelmed by their continued support and belief in my work. So, thank you, Lorenz!!!

Here's a lovely demo recording of the anthem.

For more info and to buy the sheet music, visit the Lorenz website here. It's also available from J.W. Pepper. 

Please feel free to share! Thanks! 

I'm very happy to announce the release of "Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven" from Chorister's Guild! For SATB and piano, I composed this anthem for a consortium of 10 churches a couple years back, and I was quite pleased with how it turned out, and was thrilled when CG accepted it for publication. They give the following description:

This exciting anthem for Christ the King Sunday is a stunner from start to finish! Composer Christopher Teichler sets this familiar hymn text to a lilting new tune, which…

I'm excited to have two new releases coming soon for church choir! Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven will be published by Chorister's Guild, and How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds from Lorenz Music. Both are for SATB and piano, and doable by average church choirs. Coming in March and/or April of 2020!

I'll announce when one or both are available, but please tell your choir director friends! Thanks! 

I've completed a solo piano setting of "How Deep the Father's Love For Us," by Stuart Townend. I wanted to create a stark, contemplative setting of Townend's hymn, appropriate for Lent, Lord's Supper/Communion, prayer and meditation. 

Available exclusively from Sheet Music Plus, click here for more info, a demo recording (me on piano!), sample pages and how to order. Feel free to share! Thanks! 

I am thrilled to announce the release of two of my works from Lorenz Music. 

Take Up Your Cross is a new choral anthem for SATB and piano. This text grabbed me immediately, and musical ideas came to me quickly and easily. 

Take this Bread, Take this Cup is a collection of hymn arrangements and two original tunes that were written to fit communion/eucharist portions of a church service. This has been in the works for several years, and I'm very happy that it is finally available! 

Many thanks to Lorenz for…

On Wednesday, November 6, I went back to my old junior high in the Chicago suburbs for the premier of my newest band piece, Gateway Overture. Blackhawk Middle School (Bensenville, IL) and director Mr. William Winters commissioned the piece, which included some video chats with the students in order to get to know them and the kind of piece that would most interest them. I took suggestions, listened to pieces they previously enjoyed playing, and based most of my musical decisions off of their feedback. It…

My newest band piece Gateway Overture will be premiered on November 6th at Blackhawk Middle School in Bensenville, IL. Commissioned by Blackhawk and director of bands Mr. William Winters, this piece is the culmination of several months of planning, discussion, and video chats with students (and a lot of learning on my part on writing for younger band!).

The title of the piece comes from Bensenville's motto, "Gateway to Opportunity." I'm so grateful for this opportunity, not only to write a new piece for…

After months of planning and preparation, I'm please to announce my Eight Christmas Carols for Brass Quintet is hot off the press! The collection features the following holiday tunes:

O Come, All Ye Faithful
Once in Royal David's City
Ding Dong! Merrily on High
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
The Holly and the Ivy
Away in a Manger (Cradle Song)
What Child is This

The collection is available for $50, E-Print only at this time. Click here to order, download and print your copy today! 

Click here to download the performance of "Love's Philosophy," performed by the MidCities Chamber Singers. You can own it for only $.99! Get a Grande instead of a Venti for one day, and you've budgeted plenty for it! :-D 

For those of you who like the convenience of downloading and printing sheet music, I have several selections from my catalog available on Sheet Music Plus. 

What all is available here? I'm glad you asked! 

Choral Music 
I Lay My Sins on Jesus (SATB and Piano)
If I Can Stop One Heart from Breaking (SATB a capella)
Love's Philosophy (SATB and Piano)
Now I Give Myself to Thee (SATB, Flute and Piano)
O, For a Closer Walk with God (SATB a capella)
Prayer of St. Gregory (SAB a capella)
Psalm of Praise (SATB, Trumpet,…

For my band director friends, I'd like to invite you to join my 2020 Band Consortium! I'm organizing this to commission a new work for Grade 3 band that will help kick off the start of a new decade. The piece will be energetic, exciting, and intended to symbolize looking ahead to the future with optimism and hope. In addition to the score and parts to the completed piece, I would be happy to interact with your ensemble via Skype/facetime to talk about the process of composing and why I decided to become a…

I'm happy to announce that the "Sussex Carol" consortium has been funded! The nine-member consortium is made up of the following directors and organizations:

• Dr. Ben Caston - Gambrell Street Baptist Church (Fort Worth, TX)
• Mr. Dennis Emerson - St. Michael Catholic Church (Bedford, TX)
• Dr. Lori Danielson - Northwest Bible Church (Fort Worth, TX)
• Mr. Chuck King - Trinity International University (Deerfield, IL) 
• Mr. Bart Morrison - University Baptist Church (Houston, TX) 
• Mr. Jonathan…

Part of my artistic growth, I've discovered, requires more vulnerability about WHY I compose. This was challenging for me to write, because I don't like talking about myself, but I need to learn! Click here to read my latest post. 

Many, many thanks to my friend Tom Song and the Life Road Singers for programming two of my choral anthems for their June 1st performance at Carnegie Hall. This is the first time that I will have music performed at the historic venue. While I am unable to attend, I am absolutely thrilled that they have selected some of my music for their performance. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity; thank you, Dr. Song!

Life Road Singers will be performing My Savior and Now I Give Myself to Thee. 

Church and school choir directors looking for some new Christmas music, I invite you to check out my consortium for a new setting of "Sussex Carol"  for SATB and piano. I'm using the website Consortio to handle all the administrative aspects of this consortium. Check out this link for more info and details. 

Please note, registration closes May 31st so sign up soon! 

Thanks!!!

This past April I did a composition recital that featured some of my new church choral anthems. I've been putting them on YouTube and wanted to share the ones I have completed. Click on the title to listen. Feel free to share! Thanks!

Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven - SATB and Piano

Now I Give Myself to Thee - SATB, Flute and Piano

Psalm of Praise - SATB, Trumpet, Trombone and Piano