I’m a mixed-Black, queer musician and educator who is comfortable with any pronoun as long as it’s used respectfully.

I learned to play the trumpet in 5th-grade band, igniting a deep passion for music, which inspired a lifelong pursuit of diverse musical experiences. After playing various instruments in a wide range of ensembles throughout high school, I brought my focus back to the trumpet, studying music at Western Washington University. From there, I went on to earn a master’s degree in orchestral studies from New England Conservatory of Music and launched a professional performance career in the northeast. I played in diverse settings from symphony orchestras and musical theatre pit orchestras to big bands and recording studios; along the way, I also worked as a music copyist for film scores and major music publishers, and I had several stints as a music librarian for festivals and universities.

Upon returning home to Seattle in 2007, weary of the intense singular focus on trumpet playing, I retired as a professional trumpet player and returned to my multi-instrumentalist roots. Reemerging as low brass player, I began playing trombone, euphonium, and tuba in orchestras, big bands, funk/rock bands, and chamber ensembles. I’ve been playing guitar and bass since the early 1990’s and spent the pandemic adding the banjo to my musical toolbox!

I have taught private lessons for decades and developed a comprehensive 6-12th grade music curriculum during my 13 years as a band director at a small independent school in Seattle. Recently, I’ve been writing curriculum for music and personal development programs at local non-profit organizations and independent schools.