As the first Composers Now resident artist at Civitella Ranieri, I am honored and humbled to have been in the presence of such grace and beauty. Everything and everyone around me embraced this grace: from the chefs and the way they proudly offered their gorgeous meals, to the other staff and the way they treated all the Fellows with respect and ease. The landscapes unfolding itself in the light and fresh air everyday projected such peace that the muse to generate a new work arrive generously and with ease. The gratitude for this opportunity to be here, to share meals with such deeply intelligent and sensitive artists from all over the world is immense. There are no words to express how deeply appreciative I am for this time, this magic place, this gift of integrity. The sounds, the textures, the light, the flavors, the camaraderie filled my days with a new sense of hope that we can all support each other’s artistic vision to create a more harmonious world for all.