About this Artist
I’m an educator who teaches students how to lead fulfilling, productive lives through music. I truly believe that music can be a vital tool to foster responsibility, creativity, and focus, while providing a sense of self-worth and belonging. Experiencing these qualities through music, students are more apt to take full advantage of their learning environment in other areas as well.
I grew up in upstate New York and earned a dual Bachelors Degree in Music Education and Horn Performance from Ithaca College (2000). Since then, music has taken me to England, Ireland, Israel, India, Canada, and Mexico. I also spent six summers touring Japan with the Broadway show Blast- a production that features the musicians on-stage, playing while doing choreography and moving together. In my travels, I have always been struck by the similarities of young musicians across the world – their diligence, motivation, independence, team-working ability, and general good spirit.
After moving to Los Angeles to begin a freelance career, I obtained my Masters Degree in Horn Performance from the University of Southern California in 2005. I have since performed with most of the orchestras in the area, many chamber ensembles, and recorded for film, television, and artists in different genres. In addition to being an LA Philharmonic Teaching Artist, I also teach with YOLA at Expo, LA County High School of the Arts, and the Diamond Bar School District. In the past, I taught at the Interlochen Arts Camp, and have a semester of full-time college teaching experience at Ithaca College as a sabbatical replacement.
As a Teaching Artist with the LA Philharmonic, I feel comfortable collaborating with your students in:
Horn or brass playing
Horn, brass or woodwind sectionals
Chamber music
Singing
Movement in music (for expression and physical health/posture)
Learning how to practice, how to be an active listener
Free improvisation
Music Theory
I believe music is often the best catalyst for positivity in young lives. That inspiration motivates me to constantly find new ways to create a holistic learning experience for each student through music.