This Will Remain was written for the grand opening of Frisco ISD’s new Visual and Performing Arts Center in 2026. When I was approached to write a piece for the occasion, I knew I wanted to write something that celebrated not just the building itself, but the idea that while music, dance, and live performance exist in time, the memory of those experiences lasts forever.

I once again had the privilege of collaborating with my dear friend Audrey Burchfield on the text. At the heart of her words is the idea that although our moments together eventually become memories, the connections we make through art can remain. “Art tethers our souls,” she writes, and I love the simplicity of that idea. We may forget individual performances, rehearsals, or even specific moments, but the feeling of creating something together can stay with us for years, and I find that artistic connections are rooted deeper than any other kind of connection.

This piece is a celebration of the art that can only be made in tandem with other people. In a world where so much can separate us, there is something special about being in the same room, at the same time, making music together or even experiencing live art as an audience member. I hope This Will Remain serves as a reminder that moments like these are rare, beautiful, and worth holding onto.