Biography
I come from a non-musical family, and began playing the viola at the age of 11 in group classes at my local state funded middle school in Nashville Tennessee. In 5th grade we had an ‘instrument petting zoo’, where we decided what instrument to focus on. The music teacher, a violist, saw me trying out a violin and suggested my long arms would be better suited for the viola. I’ve always enjoyed taking the path less travelled and immediately felt an affinity for the viola. After performing as principal viola in my youth and regional state orchestras, I began my BA in viola performance at the Indiana University Jacobs school of Music where I studied with Stephen Wyrczynski and Ed Gazouleas before graduating in 2013.
In 2014 I moved to Los Angeles, California where I began working at Renaissance Arts Academy, a k-12 school supported by the National Endowment for the Arts that provides high-level performing arts training for students at every level of development, bringing together a cross-section of L.A.’s diverse ethnic, economic and cultural populations. There I was the music department co-chair, taught viola in group classes, and led chamber orchestra rehearsals to music conservatoire audition standards. Many of my more than 80 viola and violin students were the first members of their families to graduate from high school and were also awarded scholarships to music conservatoires in the United States.
While living in Los Angeles, I had an active freelance career, performing in recording studios on major video game and commercial recording projects, had appearances on NBC’s ‘The Voice’, and served as co-principal viola of the American Youth Symphony. In 2019 I moved to London for an MA course at the Royal Academy of Music on scholarship where I studied with Jon Thorne. While at the Academy I was a founding member of the Salwa Quartet, who were closely mentored by Martin Outram. Since graduating I have been busy freelancing and have been on the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group’s NEXT course.
Some recent highlights from my time outside of the Academy include programming and performing a concert of contemporary music built around Morton Feldman’s Rothko Chapel, commissioning new works for solo viola and Salwa Quartet, performing Gérard Grisey’s ‘Vortex Temporum’ at the Cambridge Music Festival, and performing with Maxim Vengerov in Carnegie Hall.
EDUCATION
Royal Academy of Music
London, UK
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
Indiana, USA
Other Projects
Salwa Quartet
QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS
What do you do with your time when you’re not playing music?
I love to cook and consider myself a keen amateur chef. My birthdays usually involve me attempting to make far too many dishes for dinner parties with friends and family. Nothing makes me happier than the self-imposed stress of planning and executing a 4 course dinner with paired drinks and dessert all in a kitchen barely large enough for 2 people. I also love hiking and have a serious podcast addiction.
Tell us something about yourself that might surprise us.
Apart from playing and teaching the viola, I have also worked/been a: movie theatre attendant; lifeguard; bus operator; bicycle mechanic; telemarketer; personal chauffeur; storage facility attendant; museum docent; fully credentialed multiple subject teacher; resident assistant.