Graduation Year: 2014
Degrees Received:
Bachelor of Music Education and Violin Performance
Why did you chose to attend WVU?
I grew up in Charleston, WV and received more than a full scholarship to attend WVU. I really liked the violin teacher, Dr. Myers, and the opportunities that would be available to me in the WVU School of Music.
What is your profession now?
I am currently pursuing my doctorate in Violin Performance at Florida State University. I am a member of the Tallahassee Symphony, Sinfonia Gulf Coast, and Ocala Symphony. I maintain a large private violin studio and perform in the String Quartet-in-Residence for Sinfonia Gulf Coast, where we create and perform educational concerts in Destin, FL.
What is your most interesting current/upcoming project?
This year was my first year directing and organizing Classical Revolution Tallahassee. Classical Revolution is a national organization which brings chamber music to non-traditional settings. In Tallahassee, we were able to have six concerts in breweries and bars including groups like string quartets, an electric bassoon, and a trombone quartet, to name a few!
How do you feel WVU and the College of Creative Arts prepared you for your career?
While I was a student at the WVU College of Creative Arts, I had many varied experiences which helped me grow as a musician and a person. I had the opportunity to perform as a soloist with the WVU Symphony Orchestra twice, and conduct the Morgantown Community Orchestra for three semesters. I learned so much through performing in new music concerts where I worked with composers, chamber music concerts at the school and in the community, getting to collaborate with faculty, and student teaching in Pittsburgh. I felt valued and nurtured during my time as a undergrad at WVU, and it inspired me to pursue graduate degrees in music, so that I could become a professor in the future!