My Story
Growing up, I had the privilege of studying under two renowned and critically acclaimed vocal artists… Ariel from “The Little Mermaid” and Barney, the purple dinosaur. Okay, so they aren’t voice teachers in the traditional sense. However, they managed to instill in me a deep love of music at an early age. My parents recognized this and soon after signed me up for piano lessons. I was six years old.
These were my first musical experiences, and since then I’ve been hooked. From those first piano lessons, to conducting my high school choir at graduation, to performing with world-class bluegrass band Balsam Range in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, I have been driven to explore music in all of its forms and in as many different roles as I can. I love performing because it is risky, expressive and communicative. I love conducting because it affords me the opportunity to enable fellow musicians to perform at their highest possible level. I love teaching because it allows me to share my passion with others and guide them down their own musical paths.
My musical journey thus far has been “massively” unpredictable, but equally rewarding. A couple of years ago it landed me in Pittsburgh, where I currently serve as Director of the adult choir, Women of Song, the Assistant Conductor of the Junior Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, and Teaching Artist with New Groove Music Studio. What next? Who knows? But I can’t wait to find out!
More About Me
What I Teach: voice and piano to all levels!
Locations: Pittsburgh, PA and Virtually
Education Background: M.M. Vocal Performance, Duquesne University; B.M. Music Education (piano track) & B.M. Vocal Performance, State University of New York at Fredonia
Favorite performance I’ve seen: When Broadway composer, Jason Robert Brown, came to give a masterclass for theater students at Fredonia, he also performed in concert! I knew he was a talented pianist, but I didn’t know that he was also an amazing singer! It was cool to hear a composer perform his own songs.
Favorite performance I’ve been in: My high school’s chamber choir travelled to New York City to sing in the ensemble of Manhattan Concert Production’s “Ragtime” at Lincoln Center! It was really exciting because we rehearsed alongside some of Broadway’s biggest stars, like Norm Lewis, Lea Salonga, and Patina Miller!
Fun Fact(s): I have touched the New Year’s Eve ball in Times Square, and my favorite costume I’ve ever worn for Halloween is a Hi-C juice box (home-made!)
Current Project: As director of Pittsburgh Girls Choir’s adult ensemble, Women of Song, I am planning the group’s virtual Fall 2020 season.