Education: M.M.Ed. and BMUS from UGA (oboe and academic scholarship) - First Honor Graduate/Summa Cum Laude
Teaching Experience: Private Oboe/Bassoon/Piano Instructor for 17+ years; Founder and Artistic Director of the Forsyth Philharmonic Orchestra; Vivace Band Camp, Crow Oboe Camp, and band clinic instructor
Awards: GMEA Collegiate Scholar, Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Music Educator, GMTA Outstanding Performer, graduated with "highest honors" via the UGA Honors program
Memberships: MENSA, GMEA (adjudicator), Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society, Delta Epsilon Iota
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
Pre-College Experience: All-State Band (7th-12th grade), All-State Piano (4 years), Drum Major (2 years), Governor's Honors Program, District Honor Band (7th-12th grade), UGA JanFest/MidFest, Jazz Band
At the University of Georgia, I studied oboe with Dr. Dwight Manning and performed major works including Mahler's Symphony No. 9, Handel's Messiah, Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet, the opera La Boheme, and the well-known English Horn solo in Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez. I was also fortunate enough to have had masterclasses with renowned oboists John Mack and Dr. Martin Schuring. Under the instruction of both Betty White and Grace Caudle, I engaged in formal piano study for over fifteen years. During this time, I received multiple awards and honors in GMEA/GMTA competitions. I have taught private lessons (oboe, EH, bassoon, and piano) and school masterclasses since 2005 to students in grades 6-12+, many of whom have been selected for District Honor Band, All-State Band, ASYO, 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. 2019 performances included Reinhardt University and the Georgia Music Educators Association conference in Athens, GA. In 2020, I performed at the GMEA conference with both Tara Winds and the Atlanta Wind Symphony. 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 in 2023.
Outside of teaching music, I'm always doing artsy things: wood-working, pottery, painting, home improvement, learning new instruments, or spending time with my family and pet whippet, Emma. My husband and fellow Mensan, Jason, is an accomplished pianist, orchestra director, choral director, and math teacher. Our son, Seth, is in 7th grade and plays violin, piano, and percussion.