Beagletrain

     Doug started playing piano at the age of 6. He seemed drawn to telling stories and singing songs throughout his childhood. Traveling through his schooling into the Conservatory of Music, composing and creating was always a part of his gift. While spending most of his career teaching music and enjoying his ministry through music, composing and creating musicals was always near and dear to his heart. While much of his music is melody driven, creating new sounds through variating functional harmony has been among his favorite pastimes (in addition to rooting for his favorite baseball team, the Cincinnati Reds.) 

     Among his favorite musical pastimes is to compose counter melodies and to create brand new Broadway style musicals. Many tell stories of overcoming one's self in order to see life in a more richly meaningful way. 
Doug has received teaching awards from the Hixson Foundation, Walmart, Great Amercan Ballpark, Jackson City Schools, Who's Who in American Education (9 times), and Who's Who in Graduate Schools. He has been commissioned to write music for schools and organizations in 6 states including The College Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio Northern University and for OMEA sanctioned events. Each of Doug's albums reveal a new side to his creativity. While his hymn improvisations feature creative journeys through familiar music, projects such as Spectrum show a deeper, more varied side while still using his familiar, melody driven compositions.

     Doug has enjoyed improvising since his early years of ignoring his assigned piano lesson work. Often he balanced out his concerts between his music creativity and storytelling. While classically influenced by composers such as Holst, Stravinsky and Grainger, the music of artists such as John Denver, Simon & Garfunkel, and folk violinist Steve Schuch have also been influential in his art.

     * Music has always provided him a refuge to allow his voice to be heard. The sounds of the world can easily drown out the beauty that each new day can bring. It is a blessing that God provided an art like music that allows each one of us to safely sing the song that lives in our hearts.