I am a pianist and educator with a career that has taken me to the concert stage, the opera pit and the university classroom.
After earning my Master of Music in piano performance from Indiana University School of Music at Bloomington, I served as Assistant Conductor at New York City Opera during the Beverly Sills era, an experience that shaped my artistry and deepened my love for coaching and collaborating with singers. Guiding young musicians at the beginning of their professional journeys, I taught as Assistant Professor of PIano at University of Utah and later for three years was Piano Area Director at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah.
My approach to teaching and performance is deeply influenced by my studies with Stanley Hummel, a Josef Lhevinne student at the Juilliard School, Joseph Rezits who was a Vengerova student at Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and the legendary soprano Camilla Williams who broke the color line in 1946 singing Madama Butterfly with New York City Opera. My personal vocal studies with Camilla instilled in me the importance of tremendous vocal freedom and clarity which brings a high level of expressive artistry.
Collaboration has always been at the heart of my musical journey, as I have accompanied many students and professional musicians alike from my college days at the finest instrumental and vocal studios at Indiana University through my years in academia to the present day. Among many fine musicians I have enjoyed collaborating with my own vocal students such as award-winning tenor George Dyer whose career spans opera with New York City Opera and other companies, concerts and his popular family show in Branson, Missouri. I also enjoy mentoring and performing alongside rising professionals such as tenor Jacob Kenison as his career continues to grow and expand across opera, music theatre and concert performance, whose assistance has been indispensable to me in putting together this website.
Above all, I believe music should inspire, uplift, and connect. That belief is what I bring into every performance, every rehearsal, and every lesson.
Teaching Philosophy
As both a pianist and a singer, I bring the same artistry and discipline that shaped my performing career into the teaching studio. My goal is to give students the tools to build solid technique while also nurturing their expressive voice at the piano keyboard or in song. I believe that music study should combine rigor with joy, developing artistry and confidence that can serve a lifetime of performance and personal growth.
In piano lessons, I focus on building healthy physical technique, stylistic awareness across repertoire, and the ability to communicate through the instrument. In voice lessons, I draw on principles I learned from my mentor, the great soprano Camilla Williams: finding the best vocal placement away from the throat and into the mask which brings efficient breath management, beauty, freedom and clarity of tone which allows for a high level of vocal artistry. These foundations allow each student to find their own natural vocal range and make their own unique beautiful sound.
I work with students of all levels, from young beginners to advanced performers preparing for auditions, competitions, or professional careers. Many of my students have gone on to higher education in music, won awards, or built careers of their own in performance and teaching. Just as importantly, I strive to help every student discover the excitement of making music and the confidence that comes with it.
Watch Me Teach
To give a sense of my approach, I’ve included short lesson excerpts with both piano and voice students here on the site. Each student’s path is unique, and I tailor my instruction to help them grow both technically and musically, always with the aim of unlocking their fullest potential.