General Info:
I first discovered my love for teaching music in my teens when I began teaching in my hometown of Langlois on the beautiful southern Oregon coast. Throughout high school, I accompanied and co-directed the Pacific High School chorus, accompanied weekly for Langlois Community Church, and performed for countless weddings and special events. I also performed regularly in retirement communities in both Oregon (Heritage Place, Bandon; Cherry Wood Village, Portland) and Florida (The Mayflower, Winter Park). I attended and performed for several piano workshops taught by Dr. Alexander Tutunov (Professor of Music, Southern Oregon University), and competed annually in the Oregon Junior Bach Festival, placing 1st and 2nd in the Roseburg District competitions in 2007, 2008, and 2009, and moving on to compete in the Regional competitions in Eugene, OR, all three years. In 2010, I was honored as Featured Soloist for the Mildred Hill Concert Series (Port Orford, Oregon) and completed the Tenth and final level of the Syllabus program with the Oregon Music Teachers Association just before accepting a scholarship to pursue my Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington.
During my time in Seattle, I studied classical piano with Dr. Peter Mack and early music harpsichord with Jillon Stoppels Dupree. Aside from my studies, I volunteered weekly with the Seattle Music Partners as a piano instructor to underprivileged elementary students; worked for Cornish College of the Arts as a music tutor for the students' Theory, Ear Training, Piano, and Rhythm courses; performed regularly as an accompanist and soloist both at college events and paid events throughout Seattle; accompanied the classical voice students during their private lessons, performances, and competitions; and worked as a personal voice coach to the classical voice students. I also continued to advance my career as a private piano instructor in the Downtown Seattle area.
Since moving to Portland, Oregon, in 2011, I have performed regularly as both soloist and accompanist (Beaverton High School, Trinity Academy, Peninsula Elementary School, Messiah Lutheran Church—Finland Independence Day concerts, Red Sea Church, Cherry Wood Village, Sound Ghost Studios). I currently teach in my private studio located in St. Johns (North Portland). As of Fall 2012, I have joined the teaching staff at Park Place Music and Theater Arts Academy in West Linn as Head Instructor for the Piano Department. I am also a certified TakeLessons.com instructor. In recent months I have explored music recording and created my first album featuring Schumann's "Scenes from Childhood" Op. 15.