Biography

As a young person growing up in central Oklahoma I began performing as a piano student at 8 years old and, later, as a songwriter, singer and guitar player from 12 to 18 years old, recording albums and performing in folk festivals, competitions and showcases nationally and internationally in a band with my family until 2013, ending a collective 10 years of artistry.

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I assembled an audition program and received acceptance to study Piano Performance and earned my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Northern Arizona University, studying fully under scholarship. I studied piano under the tutelage of Dr. Frank Scott, Professor Rita Borden and Dr. Janice Chiang Chen-Ju and simultaneously pursued vocal studies under the guidance of Professor Margaret Gunderson. My studies were frequently enriched by the program via guest lecturers, masterclasses, and competitions from which I recieved the opportunity to learn from and play for internationally acclaimed pianists such as Jeffrey Swann, Gloria Chien, Christopher Atzinger, Dr. David Kaplan, Lara Dawnes and receive recognition in NATS and various concerto competitions.

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My love for being an educator and musician was inspired by my own invaluable educators. Along with that, teaching collegiate class piano courses, being a collaborative coach, and my experiences as a young learner/performer combined with 16+ years of being a private piano teacher continues to inform my teaching perspective.​ In pursuit of being a life long learner myself, I have been a music theory tutor, vocal coach, piano bar performer, wedding pianist, theater pit musician, classical dance pianist, session musician and collaborator.

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I will always remain a consistent promoter of my folk music roots. My bluegrass and gospel upbringing has been shared “from the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream Waters”, through Germany, France, Mexico, and Scotland...thus far. 

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Thank you for being here.