ABOUT ME
I was a slacker in high school…I hardly practiced, yet I had the audacity to get upset when I wasn’t first chair of the WORLD.
It wasn’t until I got to college that I realized how much I had to learn, and I haven’t stopped learning since.
I’ve been very lucky to study with kind, compassionate teachers, and those experiences have taught me how to teach others in a relatable, organic way.
After graduating with a master’s degree in performance I spent 5 years in the Nashville Symphony as an acting member of the trumpet section (“acting” means it’s your job until there is an audition for a permanent member). I performed in Carnegie Hall, I played a concert under the direction of John Williams, and even won 5 Grammy awards, which didn’t suck!
The rest of my career seemed pretty clear to me – win the audition for a permanent position and play in the orchestra for the next 50 years. Only one problem... I didn’t win the audition. And I didn’t deserve to win. I didn’t play well enough, and I knew walking out of the audition that things were going to change.
At this point you might be asking yourself “why would I want to study with you, you didn’t even play your best when it mattered most!” Well, first of all, ouch! Secondly, it’s precisely because I’ve been on both sides of playing trumpet – the highs and the lows – that you should want to study with me! Losing that audition forced me to grow, to examine my playing objectively, and to put in the work necessary to improve. The experience of playing in the Nashville Symphony was amazing, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I learned so much, including that I had more learning to do (are you picking up on a theme yet...?).
NEED A READING BREATHER? ABOUT ME AT A GLANCE…
My wife & I got married in a pretty epic way in Steamboat, CO in early 2020 (pre-lockdown).
My dad is also a professional trumpet player and taught me everything he knows!
My favorite lady dog, Olive! She looooooves ice cream! (Not a regular treat!)
I know it doesn’t look like it in this picture, but Theo HATES the ocean…
…So, where were we. Right, just lost my job, feeling like I hit rock bottom. About to cross the threshold of the unspeakable for a musician. The “F” word. FREELANCE. Freelance, that’s just a fancy way to say “unemployed” right?
Not so! As a “freelance” musician, I still get to perform with the Nashville Symphony, just as a substitute! I have more time in my schedule, allowing me to teach at middle schools, high schools, and even a couple of universities. It also allows me to be available for more studio work.
“What is studio work?”
I’m glad you asked! Anytime you’re watching a movie or tv show, or maybe you’re playing a video game and you think “wow, this music is really cool,” well, someone had to record that! In the last several years Nashville has seen a significant amount of this work move to town, and I’ve been able to play on a large number of high-profile sessions, including music for Call of Duty Cold War, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Netflix’s Space Force, just to name a few.
I won’t lie, when I lost my symphony job I was nervous. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to make a living playing the trumpet anymore, which would have been devastating. So imagine my surprise when I discovered I actually made more money as a freelance musician! My career has shown me that very few of us experience a linear career path. If you’re considering a career in music I encourage you to take that leap of faith to follow your dreams. It’s cliché, but sincerely, if I can do it, anyone can do it! I love playing the trumpet, and I never take it for granted that I get to do it for a living.
However, the trumpet is not my only love. I love my wife, Chelsea, who inspires me every day to continue learning and growing. I love our dogs Olive and Theo, and our hedgehog Pepper. I also love teaching. Helping others hit that “lightbulb” moment with their playing is such an incredibly joyful, fulfilling experience.
I would love the opportunity to help you reach your musical goals!
