I was born in Norwalk, Ohio, and grew up there. At the age of 3, I started to play the piano and read music. When I started band in 6th grade, I quickly chose the oboe after playing clarinet for a short time. I loved the oboe, and took private lessons with a great teacher. Knowing I wanted to be a teacher one day, I set about learning any instrument I could get my hands on. My two favorites, in addition to oboe, were tuba and horn; I attended honors bands, as well as Regional and All-State Orchestras, on each of those three instruments at different times. I received Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in performance. I then attended law school thereafter, where I was led to the connection between music theory, forensic musicology, and their connections to the copyright infringement of musical compositions.

I was a Lecturer of Music at Muskingum University, working with the athletic bands, and fell in love with playing horn all over again. I began playing horn regularly at Kent State University as the studio graduate assistant, and found myself never looking back. I began to play musical pit orchestras once again, an activity which had been my first love since my first professional show at the age of 12. I also began building a private teaching studio. Through one of my theater connections, I was led to Medina, Ohio, where I served as the horn instructor for the Medina Middle School Summer Band Camp. I began to work with the award-winning Medina Musical Bees Marching Band, and was a volunteer for the football season. I started teaching sectionals for the Concert Winds during the concert season, and spent time with middle school students at both Claggett and A.I. Root Middle Schools. The next season, I became an Assistant Marching Band Director, and Field Commander Advisor. My private teaching was extensive, and included students on tuba, horn, euphonium, and oboe.

Currently, I continue to perform in theater pits year-round. I recently taught for 5 years in Monroe County at Powhatan Elementary (1 year) and at River High School, where I restarted the band program after a several-year sabbatical due to financial constraints. I stepped back this year because of medical issues, and am finishing my Ph.D. in Educational Technology at KSU. I play with Muskingum Valley Symphonic Winds, a professional wind ensemble in Southeastern Ohio, and was a guest clinician of horn for the First Annual Muskingum BrassFest. I play with the Southeastern Ohio Symphony, also a professional group, located at MU also. Aside from teaching, my hobbies include being outdoors, swimming, running, fencing, cooking, photography, drawing, my rescued Siberian Husky, and roadtripping.

Development of a video game (code name M:B*) for use with beginning band. See my Research page for more details.

Revamp of Music Theory-Technology Master's Thesis Research: The Use of Music Theory and Forensic Musicologists in Title 17 Copyright Infringement of Music Composition Cases