Originally, I started my music journey playing oboe in 6th grade and since then, I’ve been hooked on music and learning instruments. Fast forward a couple years and I wanted to venture out into other double reeds so it was either English Horn or Bassoon, so I took a risk and chose Bassoon. At the time though, finding a bassoon was hard, so I reached out to nearby colleges to see if they had any I could borrow. And from there, not only did I find a Bassoon, but I also found a bassoon teacher who I took throughout my 4 years in high school.

Thanks to her, I achieved high praise across all-district and all-state as well as being recognized by the schoolboard for my achievements. Additionally, she helped me secure a scholarship at the New England Music Camp where I was able to further my studies alongside other musicians from around the country. Here I learned more about chamber ensembles and this is actually how I first got into playing with orchestra since my school back home did not have one.

In my senior year of high school, my private teacher recommended a youth orchestra an hour and a half away since I was interested in orchestra after NEMC. This is where I was able to, for the first time, really dig into orchestral works over month long periods and I fell in love with everything in it. It was this moment where I knew I wanted to be in a professional orchestra.

After high school, I attended James Madison University under the watch of Sue Barber to get my Bachelors in Music with a concentration in Bassoon Performance. Here, I lived and breathed music and played as much as possible given that I started much later than my peers. I could not thank my mentors enough to get to the spot where I am now.

Currently I am looking to go to graduate school to continue my studies, but I am taking a small break between my undergrad and graduate degrees to help alleviate debt and save to get my own Bassoon while also helping out surrounding schools and colleges build up the amount of double reed players.