FAQs
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I earned my master's degree in flute performance with distinction from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, where I studied with Susan Milan, Christopher Green, and Sameeta Gahir. I received my bachelor's degree from Duquesne University, where I was a pupil of Rhian Kenny. I've also performed in many masterclasses with world-renowned flutists such as Michael Cox, Timothy Hutchins, Marina Piccinini, Alberto Almarza, and Dr. Soo Kyung Park. Some of my most recent performance experience includes playing side-by-side with the Welsh National Opera Orchestra as well as with the London Mozart Players, Trinity Laban's Contemporary Music Group and Symphony Orchestra, and I was also a substitute musician for the University of London Symphony Orchestra.
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
Growing up, my dad often played jazz CDs at home. After hearing how much he wished he had played the saxophone instead of clarinet when he was in school, I felt inspired to try my hand at playing the saxophone. So, in fourth grade I went to my school's instrument "petting zoo" day, eager to sign up for band class. However, when I tried the mouthpiece for saxophone, I couldn't make a single sound! After a few fruitless attempts, I moved on to the clarinet, hoping it would be easier since it was slightly smaller. Nope! I couldn't make a sound on the clarinet mouthpiece either! Dejected, I went back to my homeroom without signing up for any instrument. Later on, I remember sitting in my class's free period while the first band rehearsal passed by. I still felt the sting of disappointment from not being about to play on my first and second choice instruments. However, I still felt this strong pull to play in the band, no matter the instrument this time. So, in my 11-year-old brain, I reasoned that if I chose an even smaller instrument, then it would be easier to play (this is not true, by the way). That left me with the flute! And when I went down to the band room later to try it out, I made a sound right away! I was overjoyed, and immediately went to my nearest music store to rent my very first flute and signed up for band. I fell in love with playing the flute, and I loved even more seeing the progress that I made as I learned new notes and played music with my friends. When I was in middle school, my band director introduced me to Sir James Galway. He was also known as "the man with the golden flute," and in that moment, it clicked in my head that people can be professional musicians. That was the moment I knew I wanted to be like Sir James Galway and play the flute professionally. From there, the rest is history!