Musical Life History Statement
I was born and raised in the somewhat urban, very typical, Midwestern town of Fort Wayne, Indiana. I decided later on than most musicians how involved I wanted to be in the world of fine arts. I never went to a school that greatly supported the arts, and even though my family has always encouraged my music, none of them had ever taken a personal interest in music. My fascination with music was always prominent though. I always knew what I liked and way before anyone my age even listened to the radio or followed artists, I was constantly sitting in my room making mix tapes off the radio and feeding my appetite for new and diverse music. I joined band in fifth grade; I chose to make music on the alto saxophone. I was quickly one of the best instrumentalists in my grade and remained on top through eighth grade without trying too hard. I took private lessons though and always did well in the ISSMA solo and ensemble contest. I always wanted to be in choir but couldn’t get up the confidence to join.
Then came the transition to high school. I decided on joining concert and jazz band at Bishop Dwenger High School. Having never sang nor danced, I somehow became a part of our school’s show choir as well, which was in its first year. I immediately fell in love with it all. By the next year I was dance captain and ran most rehearsals. Having been with the choir from its first year I really felt a sense of ownership of it and poured everything I had into it. In the instrumental world, I continued in concert band, played for the girl’s show choir, kept up on private lessons and participated in many honor bands across the state. I also attended the Jacobs School of Music Summer Music Clinic where I took conducting classes, saxophone workshops, and played in their honor band. I also found I had talents in the world of musical theatre. On stage I was in Guys and Dolls, The Music Man, and lead roles My Fair Lady and Oklahoma. I am happy I attended a small high school where there was not much competition in the arts. This allowed me to participate in many aspects of music and discover my potential in each. It was a great transformation and nothing has ever given me such confidence.
At Ball State, my musical opportunities for growth have kept me working around the clock for four years. I have been in large concert choirs, a small selective chamber choir, a men's chorus, an opera chorus, church choirs, national and international festival choirs, become a very active solo performer, and a singer/dancer in the Ball State University Singers. I have attended and/or participated in professional music conferences in Fort Wayne, Cincinnati, Louisville, Dallas (scholarship received to attend), Malibu, and Guangzhou, China.
My teaching opportunities have given me experience with kindergarteners through high schoolers in general, choral, and extra curricular settings. I was a music director for a youth theatre musical here in Muncie in the summer of 2013. There were around 50 children in the cast from ages 4-16 that I often worked with all at once! Some of my most significant experiences at Ball State came through my management of the Ball State University Singers (2012-2014). For two seasons, I assisted in selecting the cast, interviewing and choosing productions staff members, running weekly meetings, making digital newsletters, planning events and performances, keeping databases of the members' contact and medical information, organizing our facilities, recruiting and training new members, handling personnel conflicts, and more. I got the experience of leading and running a semi-professional musical program of collaborative performers and technicians. There is nothing about running a music program that I feel unprepared for. I have used the opportunities made available to me to the full advantage at Ball State and have become a highly equipped and prepared educator.
Then came the transition to high school. I decided on joining concert and jazz band at Bishop Dwenger High School. Having never sang nor danced, I somehow became a part of our school’s show choir as well, which was in its first year. I immediately fell in love with it all. By the next year I was dance captain and ran most rehearsals. Having been with the choir from its first year I really felt a sense of ownership of it and poured everything I had into it. In the instrumental world, I continued in concert band, played for the girl’s show choir, kept up on private lessons and participated in many honor bands across the state. I also attended the Jacobs School of Music Summer Music Clinic where I took conducting classes, saxophone workshops, and played in their honor band. I also found I had talents in the world of musical theatre. On stage I was in Guys and Dolls, The Music Man, and lead roles My Fair Lady and Oklahoma. I am happy I attended a small high school where there was not much competition in the arts. This allowed me to participate in many aspects of music and discover my potential in each. It was a great transformation and nothing has ever given me such confidence.
At Ball State, my musical opportunities for growth have kept me working around the clock for four years. I have been in large concert choirs, a small selective chamber choir, a men's chorus, an opera chorus, church choirs, national and international festival choirs, become a very active solo performer, and a singer/dancer in the Ball State University Singers. I have attended and/or participated in professional music conferences in Fort Wayne, Cincinnati, Louisville, Dallas (scholarship received to attend), Malibu, and Guangzhou, China.
My teaching opportunities have given me experience with kindergarteners through high schoolers in general, choral, and extra curricular settings. I was a music director for a youth theatre musical here in Muncie in the summer of 2013. There were around 50 children in the cast from ages 4-16 that I often worked with all at once! Some of my most significant experiences at Ball State came through my management of the Ball State University Singers (2012-2014). For two seasons, I assisted in selecting the cast, interviewing and choosing productions staff members, running weekly meetings, making digital newsletters, planning events and performances, keeping databases of the members' contact and medical information, organizing our facilities, recruiting and training new members, handling personnel conflicts, and more. I got the experience of leading and running a semi-professional musical program of collaborative performers and technicians. There is nothing about running a music program that I feel unprepared for. I have used the opportunities made available to me to the full advantage at Ball State and have become a highly equipped and prepared educator.