education.

I began learning the violin at the age of 8. I had tried taking piano lessons when I was 5, but I knew that it just wasn’t the instrument for me. My mom let me quit piano after a year, and a few years later, I begged her to let me start taking violin lessons. I knew I loved music and wanted it to be a part of my life, even from a young age.

My first violin teacher was a woman named Kendra. I started taking lessons with her and instantly fell in love with the violin. The joy I felt when I played, combined with Kendra’s encouragement, ignited a sense of purpose. All I wanted to do was practice and get better at the violin.

I started my violin journey using the Suzuki Method. I spent every summer as a child at the Colorado Suzuki Institute, and now I use the Suzuki Method in my own teaching. I fully believe in Dr. Suzuki’s philosophies for child learning and development, but I also believe that people of any age can use these principles to learn how to play the violin, or any instrument.

About 6 months after I started taking lessons from Kendra, she decided to move to a different state. She referred me to another violin teacher in town, Teresa. Teresa became my mentor and role model. She was endlessly patient and loving with me, and she supported me no matter what. She helped me prepare for every recital, every audition, and every performance no matter how long it took. Teresa taught me to play with nuance, sensitivity, and expression. To this day, I consider Teresa one of the most important people in my life. She not only shaped me as a musician, but as a human.

As the years went by, I experienced ups and downs in my playing. But I wanted to keep working hard because I knew that I loved playing. I decided in high school that I wanted to major in music in college, and I started preparing for auditions. I decided to audition for the Denver Young Artist’s Orchestra as a sophomore, and I was elated when I was selected to join the group. Being from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, I had to wake up at 5 am on Saturdays to voyage the 3-hour drive to rehearsals, and then drive all the way back home afterwards. It was a big commitment, but I was ready for the challenge and I knew that the experience in a great youth orchestra would benefit me greatly.

When I was a senior in high school, I auditioned for the University of Colorado’s College of Music. I was accepted and spent four years there studying with violinist Charles Wetherbee. I graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelors of Music in Violin Performance. I then decided to pursue my Masters of Music in Violin Performance and Specialization in Violin Pedagogy at the University of Oregon, studying with violinist and pedagogue Hal Grossman. At the University of Oregon, I also had the amazing opportunity to work with Suzuki Teacher Trainer Dr. Terry Durbin.

I graduated from the University of Oregon in June of 2022, but even though I am finished with my formal education, I am of the opinion that we never stop learning and growing. I am looking forward to all the learning that I have yet to do in my life, both musically and non-musically.

performance background.

As a soloist, I have performed in master classes for Dr. Chia-Chien Goh, Dr. Moni Simeonov, Hal Grossman, Renee Jolles, Dr. Solomiya Ivakhiv, Dr. Irina Muresanu, Peter Zazofsky, Hal Grossman, Dr. Marisa Ishikawa, and Chas Wetherbee. I also have performed the Bach E Major Violin Concerto with a combined group of members of the Steamboat Springs Orchestra and the Steamboat Springs Youth Orchestra.

As an orchestral musician, I perform regularly with the Steamboat Symphony Orchestra and Opera Steamboat in my hometown, Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I also perform in the Idaho State-Civic Symphony in Pocatello, Idaho. I have, on separate occasions, been appointed concertmaster, associate concertmaster, and principal second violin in the University of Oregon Symphony Orchestra. I have performed with Orchestra Next and the Rogue Valley Symphony in Oregon, and I have also performed with the Longmont Symphony Orchestra, the Centennial State Ballet Orchestra, the University of Colorado Symphony Orchestra, and the Eklund Opera Program.

teaching background.

When I was about 12 years old, one of my neighbors asked me if I would teach her violin lessons. I agreed, and that was the beginning of my violin teaching career. While studying at the University of Colorado, I took string pedagogy classes and taught students as part of those classes. I began teaching with Lessons in Your Home in Colorado as a way to gain teaching experience, and I was able to work with many students through that service.

When I started studying at the University of Oregon, I took violin pedagogy classes taught by Mr. Hal Grossman. Through these classes, I examined the Sitt etudes, Hohmann etudes, and the Seitz concertos through a pedagogical lens, as well as watched all of Paul Rolland’s and Mimi Zweig’s violin pedagogy tapes. I also studied dalcroze eurythmics and somatics for violinists, and I had the amazing opportunity to take a Suzuki Pedagogy course taught by Dr. Terry Durbin.

While studying at the University of Oregon, I have also had the opportunity to teach lessons as part of their Community Music Institute. Through this program, I have also had the opportunity to receive direct feedback on my teaching from program director Shelley Rich.

For my formal Suzuki teaching certifications, I took the Every Child Can! Suzuki course with Suzuki teacher-trainer Jenna Potts in October of 2023. In December of 2023 to January 2024 I took the Unit 1 Violin Suzuki course with her as well. I plan to take all of the Suzuki Violin units in the future.

I have been able to grow small private studios both in Colorado and in Oregon, and I have taught students of all ages and abilities. Now, in Pocatello, Idaho, I have over 20 private violin and viola students. I never turn away a student who is willing to work hard, and it is so rewarding to work with others who share my passion for music and violin playing. My students are constantly surprising me, making me question things, and making me see things from different perspectives. I have learned more from my students than I ever could have from just taking lessons.

It is my goal that my students work hard and love music; that’s it. I never want them to work so hard that they forget why they do it. I want to share my love for music with them, and I want them to share their love for music with the world.