Obligatory List of Things
Education: M.M.Ed. and BMUS from UGA (oboe and academic scholarships), First Honor Graduate/Summa Cum Laude, street smarts
Teaching Experience: Private Oboe/EH/Bassoon/Piano Instructor since 2005, Founder/Director of the Forsyth Philharmonic Orchestra, Vivace Band Camp, Crow Oboe Camp, band clinic instructor, lecturing unruly children
Awards: GMEA Collegiate Scholar, Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Music Educator, GMTA Outstanding Performer, graduated with "highest honors" in the UGA Honors program, voted “best learning coach” in our house during the virtual Covid year
Memberships: MENSA, GMEA (adjudicator), Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society, Delta Epsilon Iota, Costco
Performance Groups: Tara Winds, Atlanta Wind Symphony, AWS Woodwind Quintet, Northwinds, Atlanta Festival Academy Orchestra, Forsyth Philharmonic, Georgia Philharmonic, UGA Wind Symphony, UGA Orchestra, UGA Opera Orchestra, North GA Chamber Music Retreat, freelancing, forced Landers Christmas party pianist
Pre-College Experience: All-State Band/Orchestra (7th-12th grade), All-State Piano (4 years), Drum Major in marching band (2 years), Governor's Honors Program, District Honor Band (7th-12th grade), UGA JanFest/MidFest, Jazz Band, Southern Crescent Symphony Orchestra, playing other instruments’ parts when they miss entrances
Teaching Experience: Private Oboe/EH/Bassoon/Piano Instructor since 2005, Founder/Director of the Forsyth Philharmonic Orchestra, Vivace Band Camp, Crow Oboe Camp, band clinic instructor, lecturing unruly children
Awards: GMEA Collegiate Scholar, Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Music Educator, GMTA Outstanding Performer, graduated with "highest honors" in the UGA Honors program, voted “best learning coach” in our house during the virtual Covid year
Memberships: MENSA, GMEA (adjudicator), Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society, Delta Epsilon Iota, Costco
Performance Groups: Tara Winds, Atlanta Wind Symphony, AWS Woodwind Quintet, Northwinds, Atlanta Festival Academy Orchestra, Forsyth Philharmonic, Georgia Philharmonic, UGA Wind Symphony, UGA Orchestra, UGA Opera Orchestra, North GA Chamber Music Retreat, freelancing, forced Landers Christmas party pianist
Pre-College Experience: All-State Band/Orchestra (7th-12th grade), All-State Piano (4 years), Drum Major in marching band (2 years), Governor's Honors Program, District Honor Band (7th-12th grade), UGA JanFest/MidFest, Jazz Band, Southern Crescent Symphony Orchestra, playing other instruments’ parts when they miss entrances
More Things, but in Narrative Form
I began oboe in 6th grade with my first private oboe teacher and band director, Roger McLendon, who always made band class a fun environment. He played in Tara Winds alongside Russell Wilson, another talented oboist and band director who taught me in preparation for special auditions. During my high school years, I received lessons from Russ DeLuna, English Hornist in the San Fransisco Symphony (previously Atlanta Ballet/Opera Orchestras). I was lucky enough to have two outstanding high school band directors, Dr. Kerry Bryant and Stan Kramer. My church orchestra director was Lloyd Tarpley - Tara Winds director, All-State clinician, and respected teacher. From a young age, I learned piano from my mom, mainly because I had zero aptitude for gymnastics and dance. Later, under the instruction of both Betty White (not the actress - piano wasn’t her thing) and Grace Caudle, I engaged in formal piano study for over fifteen years. In the school marching and jazz bands, I played alto saxophone at a subpar level until I was appointed drum major. As an adult, I learned bassoon from my brother, Steven (thanks, btw) and I enjoy it so much that I wish I had played it sooner!
At the University of Georgia, I studied oboe with Dr. Dwight Manning and performed a variety of works including Mahler's Symphony No. 9, Sibelius' Symphony No. 5, Handel's Messiah, Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet, the opera La Boheme, and the well-known English Horn solo in Rodrigo's Concierto Aranjuez. Under a full music scholarship, I performed in the UGA Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Opera Orchestra, and solo recitals. I was fortunate to have received instruction from author/oboe professor, Martin Schuring. I also had the special opportunity of taking classes and performing in a concert with the legendary John Mack (note: He has played my oboe. If you hold it, you might receive magical powers.).
I have taught private oboe, EH, bassoon, and piano lessons since 2005 to students in grades 6-12+. They are often selected for District Honor Band, All-State, ASYO, AYWS, EYSO, MYSO, GYSO, the Governor's Honors Program, superior festival ratings, and college scholarships. I currently perform with the Atlanta Wind Symphony, Tara Winds, and the Northwinds Symphonic Band. During the summer of 2018, I toured southern Germany with Tara Winds, performing in concerts with the Blasorchestrer of Musikverein Rangendingen and the Mannheimer Blasphilharmonie. I performed at the 2021 MidWest Band Clinic in Chicago, and I recently played with Tara Winds at the 2023 Le Festivals des Anches D'Azur in LaCroix-Valmer, France. My groups often perform at the Georgia Music Educators Association conference and as guests at honor band clinics. I've never played in a double-reed flash mob...yet.
At the University of Georgia, I studied oboe with Dr. Dwight Manning and performed a variety of works including Mahler's Symphony No. 9, Sibelius' Symphony No. 5, Handel's Messiah, Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet, the opera La Boheme, and the well-known English Horn solo in Rodrigo's Concierto Aranjuez. Under a full music scholarship, I performed in the UGA Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Opera Orchestra, and solo recitals. I was fortunate to have received instruction from author/oboe professor, Martin Schuring. I also had the special opportunity of taking classes and performing in a concert with the legendary John Mack (note: He has played my oboe. If you hold it, you might receive magical powers.).
I have taught private oboe, EH, bassoon, and piano lessons since 2005 to students in grades 6-12+. They are often selected for District Honor Band, All-State, ASYO, AYWS, EYSO, MYSO, GYSO, the Governor's Honors Program, superior festival ratings, and college scholarships. I currently perform with the Atlanta Wind Symphony, Tara Winds, and the Northwinds Symphonic Band. During the summer of 2018, I toured southern Germany with Tara Winds, performing in concerts with the Blasorchestrer of Musikverein Rangendingen and the Mannheimer Blasphilharmonie. I performed at the 2021 MidWest Band Clinic in Chicago, and I recently played with Tara Winds at the 2023 Le Festivals des Anches D'Azur in LaCroix-Valmer, France. My groups often perform at the Georgia Music Educators Association conference and as guests at honor band clinics. I've never played in a double-reed flash mob...yet.
Things to Think About
I believe that music is a worthwhile endeavor. It is more than a resume bullet. Music develops the brain, combines all academic subjects, builds character, relieves stress, fosters strong friendships, and is a lifelong activity (no matter what career you choose!). I have never met a person who regrets learning an instrument. If anything, they regret quitting an instrument. I am a perfectionist, a highly-competitive person, and I am an advocate for “honors” music activities - if you’re going to do something, do it well! However, it is also important to have fun, so I try my best to make sure my students enjoy lessons. Years down the road, even if students do not remember all the information their teachers taught, they’ll always remember how their teachers made them feel. I love my double-reed students, and I think they are the most interesting people on the planet.
Extra Things
When not teaching music, I make things: woodworking projects, pottery, paintings, cartoons, crochet, outrageous Halloween decorations, balloon animals, home-improvement solutions, you name it. I enjoy playing instruments, video games, legos, math/science, and a weird sense of humor. On the weekends, I spend time with my family, friends, and our pet whippet, Luna (Emma, our prior whippet, is pictured below 🥲). My husband, Jason, is an accomplished pianist, choral director, and math teacher. Our son, Seth, is incredibly smart and funny - he plays violin, piano, and percussion.
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