(Upcoming) July 2023: Dziadzi’s Song

By Pax Ressler, commissioned by Vanessa Davis; clarinet solo with electronics and home recording
Presented at the International Clarinet Association Conference in Denver, Colorado

December 2022: Winter Dreams (Brandon’s Song)

By Kelly Clarkson, Ashley Arrison, and Aben Eubanks; choral arrangement for TTBB voices and electric bass
Performed by Reveille Men’s Chorus under the direction of Keith Koster

December 2022: Hard Candy Christmas

By Carol Hall; choral arrangement for TTBB voices, violin, and drums
Performed by Portland Gay Men’s Chorus under the direction of Braeden Ayres

December 2022: He’s Stuck in the Chimney Again

By Floyd Huddleston and Cy Coleman; choral arrangement for TTBB voices, piano, electric bass, and drums
Performed by Reveille Men’s Chorus under the direction of Keith Koster

December 2022: Carol of the Bells

By Peter Wilhousky; choral arrangement for TTBB voices, piano, two violins, electric bass, and drums
Performed by Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus under the direction of Brayton Bollenbacher

September 2022: And Then Rose Said and Dear Mom at Late Night Snacks

Lyrics by John Jarboe, music by Pax Ressler; original pieces for voices, piano, cello, guitar and drums
Performed with The Bearded Ladies Cabaret by Pax Ressler, John Jarboe, Emily Bate, Daniel de Jesús, and Mel Regn

September 2022: Ave Maria

Music by Pax Ressler; original choral work for SSAA voices and piano
Performed by The Women of the Opera Philadelphia Chorus under the direction of Elizabeth Braden

May 2022: I Won’t Back Down

By Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty; choral arrangement for TTBB voices and piano
Performed by Portland Gay Men’s Chorus under the direction of Mary McCarty

May 2022: Vivir Mi Vida

By Sam Debbie, Bjoern Djupstroem, and Bilal Hajji; choral arrangement for TTBB voices, piano, electric bass, and drums
Performed by New York City Gay Men’s Chorus under the direction of Brayton Bollenbacher

May 2022: Goodbye Earl and Cowboy Take Me Away

By Dennis Linde and Marty Seidel/Marcus Hummon (respectively); choral arrangements for TTBB voices, piano, violin, electric bass, and drums
Performed by Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus under the direction of Brayton Bollenbacher

April 2022: And Then Rose Said and Dear Mom at The Source Theatre (CulturalDC)

Lyrics by John Jarboe, music by Pax Ressler; original pieces for voices, piano, cello, guitar and drums
Performed with CulturalDC by Pax Ressler, John Jarboe, Emily Bate, Daniel de Jesús, and Mel Regn

March 2022: And Then Rose Said and Dear Mom at The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Lyrics by John Jarboe, music by Pax Ressler; original pieces for voices, piano, cello, guitar and drums
Performed with Works and Process at the Guggenheim by Pax Ressler, John Jarboe, Emily Bate, Daniel de Jesús, and Mel Regn

March 2022: The Sage & The Soft Rain

Text by Walt Curtis, Music by Pax Ressler; original choral work for TTBB voices and piano
Performed by Portland Gay Men’s Chorus under the direction of Mary McCarty

March 2022: Times Like These

By Foo Fighters; choral arrangement for TBB voice, electric bass, and drums
Performed by Portland Gay Men’s Chorus under the direction of Mary McCarty

March 2022: Grow As We Go

by Ben Platt, Ben Abraham, and Alex Hope; choral arrangmeent for TTBB voices, piano, and cello
Performed by Eugene Gay Men’s Chorus under the direction of Evan Miles

December 2021: Cool Yule

By Steve Allen; choral arrangement for TTBB voices and piano, upright bass, and drums
Performed by Reveille Men’s Chorus under the direction of Keith Koster

October 2021: Take Me Out and Pinball Wizard

As performed by Franz Ferdinand and The Who (respectively); choral arrangements for TTBB voices, piano, electric bass and drums
Performed by Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus under the direction of Brayton Bollenbacher

June 2021: And Then Rose Said at The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Lyrics by John Jarboe, music by Pax Ressler; original piece for voices, piano and cello
Performed by Pax Ressler, John Jarboe, Emily Bate, and Daniel de Jesús

May 2021: Blue Skies

By Irving Berlin; choral arrangement for for TTBB voices and piano, bass, and drums
Performed by Reveille Men’s Chorus under the direction of Keith Koster

March 2021: Overwhelmed

As performed by Royal & the Serpent; choral arrangement for TTBB voices, piano, electric bass and drums
Performed by Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus under the direction of Brayton Bollenbacher

March 2021: Rain on Me

As performed by Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande; choral arrangement for TTBB voices, piano, electric bass and drums
Performed by Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus under the direction of Brayton Bollenbacher

March 2021: I Can’t Stand the Rain

As performed by Anne Peebles; choral arrangement for TTBB voices, piano, electric bass and drums
Performed by Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus under the direction of Brayton Bollenbacher

December 2020: Te Regalo 

By Andres Torres, Mauricio Rengifo, & Sebastian Obando; choral arrangement for TTBB voices and piano
Performed by Reveille Men’s Chorus under the direction of Keith Koster

October 2020: Don’t Stand So Close to Me

By Sting; choral arrangement for TTBB voices, piano, electric bass and drums
Performed by Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus under the direction of Brayton Bollenbacher

October 2020: Façade

By Leslie Bricusse and Frank Wildhorn; choral arrangement for TTBB voices, piano, electric bass and drums
Performed by Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus under the direction of Brayton Bollenbacher

October 2020: Don’t Speak

By Eric Stefani & Gwen Stefani; choral arrangement for TTBB voices, piano, electric bass and drums
Performed by Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus under the direction of Brayton Bollenbacher

December 2019: The Snowstorm Tango

By Pax Ressler; choral arrangement for TTBB voices, piano, electric bass and drums
Performed by Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus under the direction of Brayton Bollenbacher

May 2019: Hello! from The Book of Mormon

By Bobby Lopez, Matthew E. Stone & Trey Parker; choral arrangement for TTBB voices, piano, electric bass, and drums
Performed by Reveille Men’s Chorus under the direction of Brayton Bollenbacher

May 2019: Lost in the Wilderness from Children of Eden

By Stephen Schwartz; choral arrangement for TTBB voices, piano, electric bass, and drums
Performed by Reveille Men’s Chorus under the direction of Brayton Bollenbacher

May 2019: I Know Where I’ve Been from Hairspray

By Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman; choral arrangement for TTBB voices, piano, electric bass, and drums
Performed by Reveille Men’s Chorus under the direction of Brayton Bollenbacher

May 2019: To Life from Fiddler on the Roof

By Sheldon Harnick & Jerry Bock; choral arrangement for TTBB voices, piano, electric bass, and drums
Performed by Reveille Men’s Chorus under the direction of Brayton Bollenbacher

March 2019: Let Me Not

Text by Rabindranath Tagore; choral arrangement for TTBB voices, piano, and clarinet
Performed by Portland Gay Men’s Chorus for their concert “Our Audacity to Hope” under the direction of Bob Mensel

February 2019: The Best of Cocktail Plays

Four piano interludes (“Cocktail Songs”) for Juniper Productions‘ The Best of Cocktail Plays, performed in Philadelphia

January 2019: Processional

Songs for 7 performers: Long Time, No See and We Celebrate the Memory (co-devised by the ensemble)
Presented at Bryn Mawr’s Wintry Mix: Nichole Canuso & Friends

December 2018: Gloria

Text and music by Giancarlo Bigazzi and Umberto Tozzi; choral arrangement for TTBB voices, piano, bass and drums
Performed by Reveille Men’s Chorus under the direction of Brayton Bollenbacher

December 2018: Duetto Buffo di Due Gatti

Text and music by Giocchino Rossini; choral arrangement for TTBB voices, piano, and bass
Performed by Reveille Men’s Chorus under the direction of Brayton Bollenbacher

November 2018: Passage to India

Text by Walt Whitman and Pax Ressler; musical theatre piece for transmasculine voice, piano and cello
Presented by Sav Souza, Justin Yoder and Pax Ressler at MusiCoLAB in Philadelphia

June 2018: The Octopus & the Interview

A cappella songs for 6 dancers: For the First Time, Oh the Fruits, Someone Is Stuck in the Wall, But As She Turns Her Back to Leave (co-devised with the ensemble)
Presented by Nichole Canuso Dance Company in Philadelphia

June 2018: Breathing Is Our Right

Text by Irene Russell; song for accompanied SAB chorus and soloists
Performed by the Philly Thrive Choir at a Breath of Fresh Air

June 2018: Move On

Text and music by Stephen Sondheim; choral arrangement for SAB voices, piano, and bass
Performed by Desert Voices Mixed Chorus under the direction of Brayton Bollenbacher

May 2018: Journey On

Text by Lynn Ahrens, Music by Stephen Flaherty; choral arrangement for TTBB voices, piano, bass and drums
Performed by Reveille Men’s Chorus under the direction of Brayton Bollenbacher

May 2018: Cat’s in the Cradle

Text and music by Harry Chapin and Sandy Chapin; choral arrangement for TTBB voices, piano, bass and drums
Performed by Reveille Men’s Chorus under the direction of Brayton Bollenbacher

March 2018: Let Me Not

Text by Rabindranath Tagore; choral arrangement for SATB voices, piano, and violin
Performed by Lancaster Mennonite High School’s Campus Chorale under the direction of Marcella Hostetler

December 2017: Silver Bears

Parody choral arrangement for TTBB voices, piano, and electric bass
Performed at the 23rd Annual Holiday Spectacular by Reveille Men’s Chorus in Tuscon, Arizona

September 2017: KITH

Acoustic and electronic music for contemporary dance
KITH by 3 Pony Show / keila cordova dances
Choreographed by Keila Cordova for the 2017 Philadelphia Fringe Festival at Conwell Dance Theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

June 2017: Pulling Light, Against the Wall, Come to Life

Electronic music and two voices for SUPERobject‘s Fundraiser, Pollinator
Lyrics by Sam Congdon and Pax Ressler
Performed by Pax Ressler and Sam Congdon in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Download the EP by PAM or remix by murder.love by clicking the images below:

April 2017: Forever

Original song for voice and piano
Commissioned for the engagement of Esra Heisey and Lathaniel Berkel in Elkhart, Indiana

November 2016: Drunken Disney Cabaret

Cello, flute and soprano sax arrangements for In Cahoots Theatre‘s Cabaret
Performed by Justin Yoder and Chase Byrd at Tatooed Mom in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

October 2016: Tear Down the Wall

Unison and 4-part hymn with piano accompaniment
Written for the Brethren Mennonite Council‘s 40th Anniversary, “Walls to Tables”
Premiered in Chicago, Illinois

September 2016: Linear Default

Composed with Justin Yoder, music for piano, cello, djembe and voice
Linear Default by 3 Pony Show / keila cordova dances
Choreographed by Keila Cordova, performed by Camille Gamble, Olivia Naegele, Karmen Nichole, Sarah Warren and Zoe Richards  in the 2016 Philadelphia Fringe Festival at Conwell Dance Theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

August 2016: God speaks to us in bird and song

Text by Joseph Johnson, 1888; 4-part hymn
Written for the wedding of Lydia and Michael Yoder in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

July 2016: Will I Shut Up & Dance?

Arrangement of “Will I?” by Jonathan D. Larson  and “Shut Up and Dance” by Maiman, Petricca, Ray, Waugaman and McMahon for SATB chorus, piano, electric bass and drums
Commissioned by GALA Choruses
Performed at the Denver Performing Arts Center in Denver, Colorado
Sung by over 100 youth in GALA Youth Festival Choruses

June 2016: Welcome Song at Hyattsville Mennonite Church

Original work for chorus, piano and cello for Hyattsville Mennonite Church’s 30th Anniversary of Welcome Celebration
Commissioned by Hyattsville Mennonite Church and performed at Hyattsville Mennonite Church in Hyattsville, Maryland

June 2016: Mandatory Fun at Arden Theatre Company

Lyrics by Brittany Brewer, Kevin White, Ali Pajonk & Pax Ressler; music by Pax Ressler; 12 songs for 7 performers, ukulele, flute, clarinet and piano
Performed on the Arcadia Stage at Arden Theatre Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

March 2016: Gitanjali at Longy School of Music

Text by Rabindranath Tagore; songs for mezzo-soprano, piano and flute
2. When thou commandest me to sing; 7. My song has put off her adornments
Commissioned by Stephanie Hollenberg and performed at Longy School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts

December 2015: Arden Cabaret Series, Jeffrey Coon

14 Cello arrangements and transcriptions for Jeff Coon’s cabaret
Performed by Justin Yoder at the Hamilton Family Arts Center, Arden Theatre Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Music directed by Amanda Morton

November 2015: Hard Times, Come Again No More

Original song by Stephen Foster; arranged for SATB chorus (a cappella)
Performed by The Chestnut Street Singers at their “fray: as shadows fall” concert
At First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

August 2015: Stand By Me: Hymns of Hope & Healing

Singer-songwriter hymn arrangements with piano and cello
Performed at Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster, Pennsylvania

July 2015: May the blessing of rain be on you

Text based on traditional Celtic blessing; 4-part hymn
Written for the wedding of Karin Fast and David Zwier in Waterloo, Ontario

July 2015: Stand By Me: Hymns of Hope & Healing

Singer-songwriter hymn arrangements with piano and cello
Performed at the 2015 Mennonite Church USA Convention in Kansas City, Missouri

July 2015: Camina Conmigo (Walk With Me)

Unison and 4-part hymn with piano accompaniment
Written for and chosen as a winner of the Anabaptist Songwriting Challenge
Premiered at the 2015 Mennonite Church USA Convention in Kansas City, Missouri

June 2015: Oh, let us join the great refrain

Text by Justin Yoder; unison and 4-part hymn with piano accompaniment
Commissioned for the 250th Anniversary of Plains Mennonite Church
Premiered at Plains Mennonite Church, Hatfield, Pennsylvania

May 2015: Hope is the thing with feathers

Text by Emily Dickinson; SATB chorus (a cappella)
Commissioned for The Chestnut Street Singers “As Birds Do Sing” Concert
Premiered at First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

May 2015: As They Draw to a Close

Text by Walt Whitman; Bb clarinet, alto saxophone, viola, piano and SATB chorus
Commissioned for Beyond Ourselves 2015 Concert
Performed by Beyond Ourselves and Lancaster Mennonite High School Campus Chorale at Stumptown Mennonite Church, Bird in Hand, Pennsylvania

April 2015: Stand By Me: Hymns of Hope & Healing

Singer-songwriter hymn arrangements with piano and cello
A concert funded by Barbra Graber to benefit the Collins Center (preventing child sexual abuse)
Performed by Pax Ressler and Justin Yoder at Park View Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia

March 2015: As They Draw to a Close

Text by Walt Whitman; Bb clarinet, alto saxophone, viola, piano and SATB chorus
Commissioned for Beyond Ourselves 2015 Concert
Premiered by Beyond Ourselves and Lancaster Mennonite High School Campus Choral at James Street Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

June 2014: Hard Times, Come Again No More

Original song by Stephen Foster; arranged for SATB chorus (a cappella)
Written for The Chestnut Street Singers “As One” Concert
Premiered at First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

June 2014: A Clear Midnight

Text by Walt Whitman; SATB chorus (a cappella)
Written for the 2014 Sound in the Land Festival
Premiered by Rockway Collegiate Choir in Waterloo, Ontario

May 2014: Ave Maria

Text: Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox prayer; SSAA chorus with piano accompaniment
Written for the St. Joseph Valley Camerata
Performed by Saint Mary’s College Women’s Choir in Notre Dame, Indiana

January 2014 – present: Listening for Grace

Collaboration with Justin Yoder; live theatrical arrangements and original music for piano and cello
Commissioned by Ted & Company TheaterWorks
Touring production in the USA and Canada

September 2013: My Hole Life

Live theatrical arrangements and original music for voices
Commissioned by “My Hole Life” at the Vancouver Fringe Festival
Premiered in Vancouver, British Columbia

May 2013: Romeo & Juliet

Original live theatrical score for piano and voices
Commissioned by Goshen Shakespeare Theatre
Premiered at the Goshen Theatre in Goshen, Indiana

May 2013: Libertad by Samuel Prince

Original short film score for piano
Written for Samuel Prince senior theater recital
Premiered at Umble Theater in Goshen, Indiana

May 2013: Ave Maria

Text: Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox prayer; SSAA chorus with piano accompaniment
Written for the St. Joseph Valley Camerata
Premiered at First United Methodist Church in Mishawaka, Indiana

April 2013: The Diviners by Jim Leonard, Jr.

Sound design and live theatrical arrangements for voices
Commissioned by Goshen College Theater Department
Premiered at Umble Theater in Goshen, Indiana

December 2012: Refine Us

Original hymn for SATB chorus
Written for Southside Fellowship of Elkhart
Premiered at the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary Chapel in Elkhart, Indiana

June 2012: My Love Will Cover You

Original song for piano and voice; guitar part by Logan Ressler
Written for the wedding of Ariel Ressler MacNeill and Matt MacNeill
Premiered at Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster, Pennsylvania

April 2012: America, the Beautiful

Arrangement of the traditional American song for string quartet and SATB chorus
Commissioned by Goshen College Athletics
Premiered at Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana

March 2012: Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

Sound design and live theatrical arrangements for guitar, keyboard and voices
Commissioned by Goshen College Theater Department
Premiered at Umble Theater in Goshen, Indiana

April 2011: Senior Composition Recital

Premiered at Rieth Recital Hall in Goshen, Indiana (Goshen College Music Department)
60 minutes of original music, including:

• Echo & Narcissus for flute
• Get to Know You (for three voices) and I Guess You Could Call Her (for baritone, guitar, violin, viola, cello and string bass) from Home of the Trojans, a 70-minute one-act musical
• A Clear Midnight, Look Down, Fair Moon and Darest Thou Now, O Soul for soprano and piano (text by Walt Whitman)
• Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace for TTBB chorus and djembe
• Rima VI and Rima X for mezzo-soprano and harp (text by Rubén Darío)
• To a Stranger for cello (based on text by Walt Whitman)
• neverod|doreven for string chamber orchestra
• Song of the Silenced for tenor, baritone and SATB Chorus

March 2011: Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace

TTBB chorus and djembe
Written for the 2011 Earthtones Concert (Goshen College Music Department)
Premiered by the Goshen College Men’s Choir in Sauder Concert Hall in Goshen, Indiana

November 2010: Home of the Trojans by Pax Ressler

70-minute one-act musical for 11 actors and chamber orchestra
Written for the Hindsight is 20-Something, the Goshen College Theater Department Fall Mainstage

April 2010: Junior Composition Recital

Premiered at Rieth Recital Hall in Goshen, Indiana (Goshen College Music Department)
45 minutes of original music, including:

• In Paths Untrodden for cello (based on text by Walt Whitman)
• Variation on a Folk Melody for violin and piano
• Selections from Tartuffe for string quartet
• Life is Fine, a tone poem for soprano, flute, Bb clarinet and piano (text by Langston Hughes)
• A Conceit for SSAA chorus (text by Maya Angelou)
• O viriditas digiti Dei for SSAA chorus (based on a chant by Hildegard von Bingen)
• Puberty, a musical theater piece for baritone and piano

March 2010: Tartuffe by Moliere

Live theatrical arrangements and original music for string quartet
Premiered at Umble Theater in Goshen, Indiana (Goshen College Theater Department)

March 2010: Cascade

String quartet
Performed at the Conservatory of Asturias, Spain for Music Across the Atlantic

December 2009: O viriditas digiti Dei

Based on a chant by Hildegard von Bingen; SSAA chorus (a cappella)
Written for the 2009 Festival of Carols (Goshen College Music Department)
Premiered by the Goshen College Women’s World Music Choir in Sauder Concert Hall in Goshen, Indiana

October 2009: Achilles Heel by Pax Ressler

Musical theater scene for mezzo, tenor and chamber orchestra (flute, oboe, Bb clarinet, string quartet, piano)
Performed in Umble Theater for the Fall One Acts (Goshen College Theater Department)

April 2009: Sophomore Composition Recital

Premiered at Rieth Recital Hall in Goshen, Indiana (Goshen College Music Department)
30 minutes of original music, including:

• Gigue for Cello
• Bolero for Piano
• Cascade for string quartet
• A Clear Midnight and Look Down, Fair Moon for soprano and piano (text by Walt Whitman)
• Jukebox Love Song for SATB chorus (text by Langston Hughes)
• An arrangement of What wondrous love is this for TTBB chorus
• Achilles Heel, a musical theater scene for mezzo, tenor and chamber orchestra (flute, oboe, Bb clarinet, string quartet, piano)

March 2009: What wondrous love is this

Arrangement for TTBB chorus (a cappella)
Written for the 2009 Earthtones Concert (Goshen College Music Department)
Premiered by the Goshen College Men’s Chorus in Sauder Concert Hall in Goshen, Indiana

October 2008: Saint Plays by Erik Ehn

Sound design and original live theatrical music for voices
Premiered at Umble Theater in Goshen, Indiana (Goshen College Theater Department)

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