Compositions

Recent Commissions

The Dayton Dance Initiative commissioned Madeline to write a string quartet for CoLab II, an event where local artists were paired with choreographers to create new collaborative dance pieces. She worked with Patrick Lennon of the Dayton Ballet to create a three-movement piece titled 4/4 6. The Gibbons String Quartet and members of Dayton Dance Initiative performed the final work. You can view a short preview of the piece (which premiered at CoLab II on June 20-21, 2025) below. Videography and photography by Phil Wiedenheft & Joe Cook.

In 2022, Madeline was hired to compose original music for the launch video for the University of Dayton’s historic new campaign, We Soar. The UD theater department wrote the poetry and the script for the video, which Madeline used as inspiration for her work. Orchestration and digital realization were completed by Ben Devine of the Sonic Intervention music production company. The final video, which aired on April 19, 2023, can be viewed here:

More Compositions

Full/String Orchestra:

I Wander As I Wander (2022)

  • String arrangement commissioned by former University of Dayton professor Dr. Patrick Reynolds. Performed by UD Orchestra.

Celeste (2021)

  • Ethereal minimalism-inspired piece for string orchestra. Performed by the University of Dayton Orchestra. Abridged version performed on 2022 Senior Composition Recital.

Some Christmas (2021)

  • Full orchestra arrangement of a Christmas tune, written in collaboration with a classmate. Performed by the entire University of Dayton Music Department at 2021 UD Christmas Showcase.

Chamber Ensembles:

The Fritz (2024)

  • Quirky character piece for flute, oboe and clarinet, performed by Composers of Ohio Collaborative Organization for Acoustic Music (COCOA).

Variation on Oh Shenandoah (2024)

  • Flowing, meditative work for flute, oboe, clarinet and piano. Performed by COCOA as a collaborative, multi-composer theme-and-variation project.

Celeste – String Quartet Version (2022)

  • String quartet arrangement of orchestral piece from 2021. Performed by COCOA.

Film Score for Jekyll and Hyde (2021)

  • Music Theory Capstone project. A dark, moody, original score written to accompany a scene from the 1920 silent film Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Performed with video on 2022 Senior Composition Recital.

Cognitive Dissonance (2017)

  • Chaotic atonal piece featuring viola and trombone. Premiered at JCA Composers’ Orchestra concert.

Dysphoria (2016)

  • Reflective three-movement work for flute, violin, viola and cello. Written for Intro to Composition class final project.

Peaceful Agitation (2016)

  • Minimalist piece for five-part viola ensemble. Performed at 2016 viola studio recital.

Incidental Music for Kettering Fairmont High School Radio Drama War of the Worlds (2015)

  • Tense and eerie string and piano interludes. Included Pierson’s Tango (recording above), which was developed into a full orchestra piece in the same year. 

Incidental Music for Kettering Fairmont High School Radio Drama Sherlock (2014)

  • Short works for string ensemble and piano, meant to quietly build a suspenseful mood.

Solo Works:

Reflections (2023)

  • Gentle piece for solo piano, performed by COCOA.

Gone Like a Cool Breeze (2021)

  • Jazz work for clarinet and piano. Performed on 2022 Senior Composition Recital.

Nocturne No. 1 (2020)

  • Pensive work for solo piano. Performed on 2022 Senior Composition Recital.

Electronic Music:

Friction (2021)

  • Experimental electronic piece for solo viola, loop pedal and vocals. Revised and performed on 2022 Senior Composition Recital.

Castaway (2021)

  • Collaboration featuring prerecorded sound, live performance and dance. Premiered at a Music and Dance Showcase in 2021; performed with dancer on 2022 Senior Composition Recital.

Listen to more recordings of her work on SoundCloud: