​With over three decades of professional teaching experience, I am a doctorate-level violinist, educator, and mentor. Sought after for my pragmatic yet empathetic approach, my career spans from having built a successful studio, to coaching rehearsals for the DePaul University Symphony and the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, to joining multiple collegiate faculties. I have held positions at Missouri State University, Lake Forest College, Northeastern Illinois University, and Northwestern University, where I served as a doctoral teacher and have been on the Music Academy faculty for over twenty years.​

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As a multi-faceted violinist, I have an extensive background in orchestral playing, performing with organizations such as the Joffrey Ballet and Chicago Sinfonietta, and having held principal chairs in the Chicago Civic Orchestra and Springfield Symphony Orchestra. As a chamber musician, I toured with the Hawthorne Trio — the featured ensemble of Missouri State University. As a studio musician, I have recorded for a multitude of national television-radio commercials, albums, and contemporary music sessions. Along the way, I have been privileged to share the stage with classical icons and pop stars, such as Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, The Three Tenors, Charlotte Church, The Beach Boys, Josh Groban, Dennis DeYoung, Peter Cetera, Johnny Mathis, Martina McBride, Mannheim Steamroller, and Andrea Bocelli on the Oprah Winfrey Show.​​

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Beginning violin at the age of three, I went on to earn degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory (BM) followed by Northwestern University (MM, DM). However, it was my high school’s failing music program which surprisingly laid the foundation for my future passion: With only four students enrolled in my 11th grade orchestra, our assigned “teacher” (who did not play a stringed instrument) literally asked me to run our rehearsals! I faced my classmates with violin in hand, and thus emerged the humble beginnings of my teaching.

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​Having found my true spark in education at the pre-college level, it seems I have come full circle  —  gratefully, I know that I’ve landed exactly where I am meant to be: