I was born in Detroit, Michigan, and moved to East Lansing, Michigan, near the campus of Michigan State University when I was four years old. The East Lansing environment was rich with opportunities to interact with children from different cultures, experiences, and backgrounds; many of whom also shared my interests and love of music. From this environment, it helped me learn to appreciate the uniqueness of individuals and feel a sense of comfort with others which opened the door for me creatively in many ways. As I continue to grow as a musician and have new experiences, I am gaining new insights about me as person and artist. For life its self is a continuing growth process. I began my musical journey at a relatively young age since there was always music in our household. I began private piano lessons at age seven before playing the viola.
When I was in 4th grade, I told my piano teacher that next year I could pick an instrument to play in school and that I wanted to play a stringed instrument. I didn’t know what to choose. She suggested the viola. At age ten, I began playing viola in the 5th grade school program. Two years later I started taking private viola lessons and began attending summer music camps for further enrichment. Soon I began to perform publicly in recitals and other musical activities. I entered the world of music competitions and won honors both for piano and viola performance. In 1982 I was selected as Presidential Scholar in the Arts and invited to perform at the Kennedy Center.
I began higher education at the University of Michigan for three years and then transferred to the University of Southern California. I graduated from USC with both bachelors and masters degrees in Music Performance. While a student at the University of Michigan, I was selected to be a part of Donald McInnes’s video-taped “Master Class Series”.
I continued to win competitions, and in 1986, was the youngest competitor to earn a prize in the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition. After winning the National Primrose Viola Competition in 1987, and performing Alan Shulman’s Theme and Variations with the National Arts Chamber Orchestra, I was heard by a musician whose wife was a contractor in Los Angeles. They gave me my first opportunity to begin studio playing.
I started playing in the studios while still a student at USC and took a break for several years to focus on my orchestral career. In 2001, I started working regularly again as a studio musician in Los Angeles playing on more than 300 movie sound tracks, pop CDs, Award shows etc. and have been commuting there for over 12 years.
Three weeks after I graduated from USC, I won an audition and became Acting principal Violist with the Sacramento Symphony. I remained with that symphony as Assistant Principal Violist through 1996. In the 1990’s I had the opportunity to tour with the New York Philharmonic and the San Francisco symphonies. I joined the New Century Chamber Orchestra during this period and have remained with them. I am also a summer musician with the Sun Valley Symphony of Idaho for more than 10 years.
I have been soloist with many orchestras throughout the years, including: the Lansing Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Savannah Symphony, Sacramento Symphony and the New Century Chamber Orchestra. I have also given solo recitals and performed on many chamber music concerts.
I have a variety of interests outside of music which include: writing, cooking, dancing salsa and tango, reading, watching movies and sports, gardening, basking in the warm outdoor sunshine, and enjoying arts and crafts. My latest project is making clocks!
As I enter this period in life, I am exploring new projects and opportunities and am excited to see where life’s fortunes will guide me.
