for Trumpet/Flugelhorn and Piano
 
"Our friendship began in a shelter when two deep brown eyes of a lab mix puppy gazed into mine and touched my soul.  Buddy spent 13 of his 14 years at my side listening to as many as 60 trumpet lessons a week, hearing park concerts in the summer and traveling tens of thousands of miles a year in the car.  Through the highs and lows of life, this selfless companion was the one constant on whom I could rely to turn darkness into joy.  For years I had played Bernstein's "Rondo for Lifey" in recitals dedicating the piece to Buddy.  When he passed in May 2008, I knew I wanted a way to capture his spirit in musical form to keep him with me." - Eric Berlin