My story

Anchor 1

Performance

Music lessons started with Suzuki piano at age 7 with Stephen Royal in my hometown of Kalamazoo, MI. Lessons with him have continued to influence my teaching to this day; I credit him with my foundation in aural skills and music theory. I began playing flute at age 9 in my school's band program, then pursued flute performance as my major in college, earning a Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and completing some coursework toward a Post-Masters Certificate in Performance. While pursuing my graduate work, some proud moments were winning a spot to play for Paula Robison in the National Flute Association's Master Class Competition, winning a scholarship in the Tuesday Musical Competition, and winning the university Concerto Competition.

After arriving in Chicago, my primary performance project was serving as the flutist for Palomar, the performance arm of Chicago-based new music and composer resource Access Contemporary Music. I also spent my performing years freelancing in regional orchestras in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois, and doubling on woodwinds in orchestra pits for a dozen or so musicals in various theaters. A memorable performance highlight was touring with The Irish Tenors.

Besides Palomar, I've played with numerous groups in and around Chicago, Michigan, and Indiana: traditional regional orchestras, chamber projects, and contract jobs for touring groups.

Orchestral: Kalamazoo Symphony, Battle Creek Symphony, Northbrook Symphony, Southwest Michigan Symphony, Northwest Indiana Symphony, Whiting Park Festival Orchestra, Lira Ensemble, Oistrach Symphony, Highland Park Strings, New Millennium Orchestra, Chicago Composers’ Orchestra, Pine Mountain Music Festival (Michigan’s UP), Chicago Global Orchestra, Rome Festival Orchestra, Orford Arts Centre, Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific, Tuscarawas Symphony.

Chamber: Shore Line Flutes, Palomar Ensemble, International Chamber Artists, Anaphora, Crossing Borders Music Collective, Bach & Beyond

Commercial, Pops, Folk, Other: The Irish Tenors, Celtic Thunder, Evanescence, Lindsey Stirling, Sarah Brightman, Hanson, Il Divo, Josh Groban, Canadian folk duo Russell & Gray

PERFORMANCE REVIEWS with Access Contemporary Music:

Chicago Classical Review September 2010

Chicago Classical Review September 2012

Chicago Classical Review February 2013

Chicago Classical Review January 2014

HEAR ME PLAY: PERFORMANCE VIDEOS with ACM:

Composer Alive: Mexico rehearsal June 2009

Quintet by Brian Currant Dec 2011

Seth Boustead's Three for Zhou B August 2012

Yellow by Lansing McClosky August 2012

Density 21.5 with ACM October 2012

Open House Chicago, October 2013

"Four Songs from the Song Reader" January 2014

Delete/Control/Option by Marcos Balter, Toy by Alexandre Lunsqui March 2014

Photo by Nick Matthews

Photo by Adam Johnson

Shore Line Flutes, inaugural perfoamence

Preschool outreach concert

Teaching

The Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts)

2010 - 2022

ChiArts opened its doors to its first students in 2009, and I joined the faculty in 2010. I have taught and developed curriculum for these courses:

-Flute Technique

-Music Theory Fundamentals

-Wind Repertoire

-Concert Band

While teaching all of these courses is invigorating, my not-so-secret passion is teaching music theory!

Merit School of Music

2007 - 2014

Merit offers private and group instruction in Chicago's West Loop neighborhood as well as off-site instruction all over Chicago. I taught in all Merit's programs, from group beginner flute classes to group advanced classes in the Tuition-Free Conservatory, private lessons for all ages, summer camp, chamber music for high school students, and beginning woodwinds on the south and west sides of the city for Merit's "Bridges: Partners in Music" program.

Other teaching positions a little further back in time

Back in Michigan I taught at Crescendo Academy of Music (Kalamazoo) and at the Music Center of South Central Michigan (Battle Creek) from 1999-2003. While pursuing my Master's degree at University of Akron, I had a graduate teaching assistantship and also taught privately in my home. Years ago in Chicago I taught at the McCord House in Palos Hills, The School of Performing Arts in Naperville, at Lane Tech High School, and privately in my home and in students' homes. There's a soft spot in my heart for my very first private students I taught in Allegan, MI while still an undergraduate at WMU.

Education

DePaul University

One year of a Post-Master's Certificate in Performance, studying with Mary Stolper.

The University of Akron - Master of Music

Master of Music; studied with George Pope.

Western Michigan University - Bachelor of Music

Bachelor of Music; studied with Christine M. Smith. Following this diploma, I studied independently for the next several years with Christopher Kantner of the Grand Rapids Symphony.

Catholic University of America

I started my college career at CUA, in Washington DC, studying with Alice Weinreb of the National Symphony Orchestra. I also studied in the piano studio of Dr. Chiara Selby.

Etc.

ADDITIONAL FLUTE STUDIES

Rome Festival

Rome, Italy

Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific

Powell River, BC, Canada

Julius Baker Masterclasses

Danbury, CT

Orford Arts Centre

Magog, QC, Canada

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS