Connection through Music and Sound

I grew up in Northwest Indiana, surrounded by cornfields and horse and buggies. To this day, there are hitching posts at a shopping center by my mother's home!

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I was a child prodigy – touring Europe as a soloist with a Symphonic Wind Ensemble at 13, playing Carnegie Hall at 16 and earning a full scholarship to Indiana University at 17. I earned my masters at the University of Redlands under the mentorship of Barney Childs, a protegé of Aaron Copland. During my final semester there I was honored with a commission to compose a work for Rudy's Perez' 25 Years in LA celebration. Two years later, I moved to Finland to bring the healing powers of music to work with children who'd been abused and neglected. This work changed my life. It was engaging, challenging and inspiring. It would become one of the main focuses of my life.

After a few years of being overseas and time on the East Coast, I moved back to the Bay Area. I performed with and led a number of rock and jazz groups, including Bitches Brew, voted the Bay Area's favorite band*. I was also involved with American Composers Forum, 21st Century Players, San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra, ODC Dance, and other modern artists. During this time I continued to hone his skills as a trumpet player, composer, music promoter and producer.

* by readers of SF Weekly

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In 2012, I returned to university to study to become certified music therapist (MT-BC), which I did several years later. In 2017, I set up my practice in Ventura, CA and worked in senior living facilites, rehab centers, parks and recreation classes, various public events. Two months after moving to Ventura, on 2 December, the Thomas Fires hit. I performed over 40 scheduled and impromptu events - at aid stations, donation centers, fund-raising gatherings and parking lots full of first responders. After a month, the fire was barely contained and kept jumping firebreaks. In Ojai and Ventura, I played for hundreds of first responders. As it was Christmastime. I knew these heroes were exhausted, I played "Silent Night." In each place, I saw people climb out of their vehicles, turn on flashers and spinning lights. They climbed on top of their fire engines and held hands over hearts, which made me know I had to end with "The Star Spangled Banner." I was so honored to share this moment with these brave souls. Another moment I loved was coming out of Trader Joe's and seeing people walking around well, sort of like zombies. We had all lost track of time. We were all exhausted. Ashes covered our cars everyday. I got my trumpet, climbed on the roof of my car and played "Joy to the World." When I finished there were people clapping and yelling from the nearby parking lots. I later met a woman who recognized me from that event and she thanked me for "making her day." Wow. So wonderful to touch people. That's what was absent. Connection!