2024 In Review
2024 was a busy year. I was fortunate to enjoy a plethora of fulfilling conducting experiences this year, including two Requiems (Mozart and Fauré) and a Gloria (Rutter). Our Chancel Choir at Christ Church performed at the ACDA Southern Regional Conference, which was a tremendous honor. I had some professional changes this year and some personal challenges as well. And now my oldest son is in college, and our family is adapting to this exciting new stage of life.
All of this to say: I did very little composing in 2024. I had no shortage of ideas, but I had a significant shortage of time. I have no regrets, however; there are times and seasons for all things, and the season for composing will arrive soon enough. I published five works, of which I am particularly proud of Fantasia on an American Hymn Tune which I wrote for my son, Ben. It was a delight to compose it for him, and even more fun to play it with him. I am also proud of my setting of Abide With Me, which I composed in the Smoky Mountains while trekking up Mount Le Conte.
Although my compositional output was meager, I was pleasantly surprised that 2024 was a big year for sales. Hedgerow had a 50% increase in sold units and 109% increase in revenue over 2023. Not too shabby! 2024 also saw the largest variety of pieces sold, including a big increase in sales from our Festival Hymns series. Most of my pieces are difficult and I never assumed they would sell well. However, it is lovely to know that word is spreading and people are finding useful things in my catalog. I am quite humbled when a piece of mine is deemed worthy to purchase and perform. If you are one of those people, thank you very much.
Our top sellers in 2024
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing, SAT(B), piano
Create in Me a Clean Heart, SSA, viola, piano
The King of Love My Shepherd Is, tenor, clarinet, piano
Coming in 2025
Next in the queue is my setting of Christ the Lord is Risen Today which will be available in January. After that, I have a couple pieces that will be premiered in 2025 and will be published afterwards. I have a sabbatical coming my way this year, and I intend to use some of that time to do some creating. We will see what happens! Also, we are experimenting with new logos and branding, so you might observe some cosmetic changes to our website this year. And finally, like thousands of other musicians, we said our final goodbyes to Finale and took the Dorico plunge. Engraving is slow going right now, but I anticipate some improvements to the layout and readability of our music moving forward.
Thank you so much for supporting this creative venture of mine. All of us at Hedgerow wish you the happiest and healthiest of new years!
With gratitude,
Dan