The year 2001 has been a busy and productive year for the composer.  In the spring months he completed extensive revisions of his massive Crónica del último año en la vida de un mexicano for seven percussionists and large wind ensemble, a work premiered very successfully in February by the St. Cloud State Wind Ensemble directed by Richard K. Hansen and subsequently recorded by the group for release on "Messages From the Past."  Subsequently the work was broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio and in May, the UCLA Wind Ensemble under the direction of Thomas Lee premiered the new, longer version with great success at UCLA’s renowned Royce Hall.  As of this writing the next scheduled performance of this work will be given by the Indiana University Wind Ensemble under the direction of Ray Cramer in the spring of 2002 on the campus of Indiana University.  The work has been placed with Peer-Southern Music International, and the parts may be rented from Theodore Presser.  There are two excellent recordings available.  In addition to the CD release by the St. Cloud group cited above, which may be attained by contacting Richard K. Hansen at St. Cloud State University, is another, of the newer version, made in Los Angeles by the UCLA Wind Ensemble.  This recording may be purchased by contacting Dr. Thomas Lee at UCLA.

This past June saw a searing performance of the composer’s Rhapsody for Violin and Orchestra by violinist Mark Kaplan with the UCLA Philharmonia Orchestra under the direction of Jon Robertson.  Though the recording made of this live concert is not at this time commercially available, it is an excellent one and may be obtained by contacting the composer directly.

Mr. Krouse has recently completed a new work for clarinet, violin and piano entitled Eternal Lullaby.  The work was jointly commissioned by the Verdehr Trio and Michigan State University and will be premiered by the trio in the near future.  Completed on the morning of the tragic events of September 11, it is dedicated to the memory of the victims of the attacks. The composer is also working on a new concerto for violin, clarinet and chamber winds for Walter and Elsa Verdehr, commissioned by the Michigan State University Wind Symphony under the direction of John Whitwell.  The work is scheduled to be completed by the beginning of the summer 2002 for premiere in the 2002 – 2003 concert season in East Lansing, Michigan.

In August the RCM label released the composer’s newest compact disc, "Three Friends", containing performances of five works by the Debussy Trio (Angela Weigand, flutist, David Walther, violist, Marcia Dickstein, harpist).  Opera singer Suzanna Guzman joins the trio for performances of several works based on texts of Federico García Lorca.  All of these artists have championed the composer’s works for decades, and bring a wealth of interpretive experience to this beautifully recorded collection.  The Debussy Trio, which has previously recorded the composer’s chamber tone poem, Thamar y Amnón on Koch, has just commissioned a new work from Mr. Krouse.

Other recently concluded or upcoming projects include the completion of a new school song for the Santa Susana School of Chatsworth, California, the acceptance of another commission from the American Guild of Organists for a new work for classical guitar and organ for the 2004 AGO national convention in Los Angeles, and a projected guitar solo for Evan Hirschelman.  New publications slated for imminent release include Elegy for violin and piano and Da Chara for flute and guitar.