a 2019 winner of MacPhail's Mini-Met Competition.

In addition to singing, Dominic plays trumpet (including with Minnesota Youth Symphonies), piano, and guitar, and he composes his own songs. He released his first album of original songs (entitled In This Place) in November 2018. Dominic wrote the lyrics and music for the album and performed on vocals, keyboard, guitar and trumpet. Dominic has also composed original jazz compositions, and he recently wrote an original score for an SPCPA production of The Little Prince at Gremlin Theatre.

Dominic is the youth winner of Zeitgeist's 24th annual Eric Stokes Song Contest. Named in memory of late composer Eric Stokes, the contest is designed to encourage and celebrate amateur composers throughout the Twin Cities. Dominic's winning entry, Composition in B minor, will be performedby Zeitgeist at their annual Playing it Close to Home concert Feb. 8-9 at Studio Z.

In describing his winning composition, Dominic says: "I love music because it is beautiful and allows me to express deep emotion. There is some sadness in this song but also the idea that creating something beautiful is calming and healing."

Playing it Close to Home

With winning songs from the Eric Stokes Song Contest plus music by local composer Yohannes Tona, Zeitgeist's annual Playing it Close to Home concert celebrates the wealth of musical creativity found right here in our own backyard. The program includes music by Eric Stokes Song Contest winners Debbie Cushman, Ryan David Stevens, and Dominic Cudd, plus new works by Ethiopian bassist and composer Yohannes Tona, including pieces inspired by Ethiopian