“I was lucky to grow up in a music loving family who were just as likely to tune into Live from Lincoln Center as Austin City Limits. As many do, I started my music journey in my church choir and school band. At UNC Chapel Hill I participated in as many ensembles as my schedule would allow: Carolina Choir, Opera Workshop, Wind Ensemble, and Athletic Bands. I studied both instrumental and choral conducting as an undergraduate, culminating in a semester mentorship with Tonu Kalam and the UNC Symphony.
My desire to master my own voice and to deeply understand how to teach others to sing led me to Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. This small school is well known in vocal and sacred music communities. My husband and I married just before I began my studies, and we lived there for another four years after I graduated. This was a musically rich time; choral work, church work in various denominations, concerts, and lots of teaching.
When we returned to our native North Carolina, I jumped into the local music and theatre community performing with the chorus of the NC Opera company and various roles at Raleigh Little Theatre. I also taught various music courses and directed a chorus at Wake Technical Community College.
The suspension of making music together in 2020 and into 2021 was a difficult and disorienting time that intensified my appreciation for singing together. In 2022 we decided that it was important for our family to have a spiritual home and we began attending UUFR. Since joining the UUFR staff at the beginning of 2023, I have loved bringing a wide variety of music to the congregation here. Though many musicians specialize, I enjoy the challenges of collaborating with a choir, instrumentalists, and soloists ranging in age from child to retiree and experience levels from beginning to advanced.
I live in Garner with my husband Michael, our daughter Bess, and our dog Stella.”
