I am a pianist and educator whose career has carried me to the concert stage, the opera pit, and the university classroom. Music has always been more than a profession for me — it’s a way of inspiring, uplifting, and connecting with others.
Education & Early Work
After completing my Master of Music in Piano Performance at Indiana University, 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 singers. From there, my path led to academia, where I taught as Assistant Professor of Piano at the University of Utah, and later served three years as Piano Area Director at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah.
Influences & Mentors
My approach to both teaching and performance is deeply influenced by my own studies with extraordinary musicians:
Stanley Hummel, a Juilliard pianist and student of Josef Lhévinne
Joseph Rezits, who studied with Vengerova at Curtis Institute of Music
Camilla Williams, the groundbreaking soprano who, in 1946, became the first Black singer to perform with New York City Opera
Camilla, in particular, changed my life. My vocal studies with her instilled in me the importance of vocal freedom and clarity — qualities that bring a higher level of expressive artistry to all music-making.
Collaboration
Collaboration has always been at the center of my journey. From my earliest days at Indiana University to my years in academia, I have had the privilege of making music with both students and professionals. Among them:
George Dyer, award-winning tenor whose career spans opera, concerts, and his family show in Branson, Missouri
Jacob Kenison, a rising tenor whose expanding career across opera, musical theatre, and concert performance continues to inspire me (and whose help in creating this very website has been invaluable)
These collaborations remind me that music is not a solitary pursuit, but a shared expression.
My Philosophy
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.