I believe that music is meant to be shared, and my lifelong goal is to bring music to people who may not otherwise have access to it in a way that is approachable, meaningful, and healing. I hold a master’s degree in guitar performance and pedagogy from The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, where I was the graduate assistant for Dr. Thomas Viloteau, and a bachelor’s of music degree with a concentration in music education and guitar performance from The University of Texas at San Antonio.
I have substantial experience as an educator through my work teaching music in a variety of settings, including the Loyola University of Maryland, Aspen Music Festival and School, Peabody Fret Fest, D.C. Strings, Austin Classical Guitar’s (ACG) Juvenile Detention Program, Guitar San Antonio, a retirement community in Baltimore, and UT San Antonio String Project after-school music program as assistant director where I taught and conducted guitar ensembles. My students have performed in the ACG Youth Orchestra, won prizes in competitions, and been awarded scholarships to pursue music in college. I have taught students of all ages from 4 to 94. I’ve taught an assortment of genres and styles, including rock, pop, jazz, and classical, from Taylor Swift to Bach to Chet Atkins. Overall, my dedication and resourcefulness make me an adaptable teacher, who is able to mentor any student interested in learning guitar.
Outside of my solo performance career, I enjoy collaborati ... view more »
I believe that music is meant to be shared, and my lifelong goal is to bring music to people who may not otherwise have access to it in a way that is approachable, meaningful, and healing. I hold a master’s degree in guitar performance and pedagogy from The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, where I was the graduate assistant for Dr. Thomas Viloteau, and a bachelor’s of music degree with a concentration in music education and guitar performance from The University of Texas at San Antonio.
I have substantial experience as an educator through my work teaching music in a variety of settings, including the Loyola University of Maryland, Aspen Music Festival and School, Peabody Fret Fest, D.C. Strings, Austin Classical Guitar’s (ACG) Juvenile Detention Program, Guitar San Antonio, a retirement community in Baltimore, and UT San Antonio String Project after-school music program as assistant director where I taught and conducted guitar ensembles. My students have performed in the ACG Youth Orchestra, won prizes in competitions, and been awarded scholarships to pursue music in college. I have taught students of all ages from 4 to 94. I’ve taught an assortment of genres and styles, including rock, pop, jazz, and classical, from Taylor Swift to Bach to Chet Atkins. Overall, my dedication and resourcefulness make me an adaptable teacher, who is able to mentor any student interested in learning guitar.
Outside of my solo performance career, I enjoy collaborating with other artists and premiering new music. Playing music with others is a passion of mine. I have performed as a member of the chamber group The Raven Trio, the award-winning rock band SquidHouse, and The Spirit of San Antonio Marching Band. In addition, I have also worked as a session artist, where I have recorded for Ashna Pathan’s musical “Senior Year Is Gonna Kill Me!”, Leaf’s rap album “Art By Leaf”, and 777s’ rock album “Computer Soul.” I’ve had the privilege to perform in unique spaces, including the Randolph Air Force Base, AlamoDome, Tobin Center, Berkeley United Methodist Church, South Texas Research Facility, North Oaks Retirement Community, Methodist Hospital, Leith Symington Griswold Hall, and Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall. In the fall of 2022, I completed a residency with El Paso Pro Musica. During this program, I toured the city performing concerts, teaching masterclasses at UT El Paso, and providing workshops with the Raven Trio. I am an avid proponent of new music and have premiered new works by Matthew Dunne, Michael Keplinger, Matt Bacon, Ashley Lucero, and Fabian Beltran.
Beyond the traditional environments of teaching and performing, I have extended my career into the field of arts in health. For two years, I was the Musician in Residence at North Oaks Retirement Community in Baltimore. While there, I performed for the residents on a bi-weekly basis in both the independent and assisted living facility; held public practice sessions; and taught monthly classes on different musical subjects. I also performed at the Johns Hopkins Hospital for the Peabody Institute’s program ‘Music for a While.’ This program creates public access to music within the hospital environment to elevate mood and reduce anxiety among those who visit, work, and are cared for within the hospital via short, informal, and accessible musical programs.
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