🎵 “Why Them” is the 4th in Hayden’s series of narrative compositions at age 11, inspired by a moving video showing children enduring a long, dangerous mountain commute to reach school.
Using two violins, viola, and cello, Hayden contrasts this harsh, relentless journey with the ease of his own daily commute in New York City — exploring themes of privilege, perseverance, and empathy through sound.
Inspired by America’s legacy of the first moon landing in 1969, “Apollo II: The Paradox” reflects both the historical triumph of human achievement and the deep personal grief of astronaut Neil Armstrong, who left on the moon a bracelet belonging to his two-year-old daughter, lost to brain cancer.
Original premier version, performed by musicians of the New York Philharmonic, "Children of Chernobyl" is Hayden’s musical interpretation of an image he created at age 11 to open his school debate on the dangers of nuclear energy.
The piece depicts the haunting contrast between the joy and innocence of children at play and the desolate silence that followed the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Through shifting textures and stark musical contrasts,
There Goes the Rabbit is a fun, animated chamber work inspired by a cartoon scene where Bugs Bunny is chased down a rabbit hole by Daffy Duck. Scored for two violins, viola, cello, and bass, the piece captures the lighthearted energy, quick tempo shifts, and mischievous character of classic animation.