Who I am:

I’m a percussionist with a focus on contemporary music. As an artist, I’m inspired by the power of musical performance to communicate stories. I spent the last three years at Arizona State University where I recently completed my Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Performance. Before moving to the desert, I studied in New England at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, where I earned my Master of Music degree in Performance. I’m originally from the coastal town of Hampton, Virginia, and I love to sail in my free time.

My Fulbright grant focuses on:

I will be studying the marimba, a pitched percussion instrument with wooden bars. I will complete a marimba apprenticeship in Gdańsk that includes private instruction and several solo performances. In addition, I will arrange five pieces for marimba duo that were originally written for piano by Polish composers to create a pedagogical resource for young students of the marimba.

I decided to apply for a Fulbright grant because:

In a university setting, I often play a wide variety of instruments that are all part of the percussion family. I applied for the Fulbright grant because I want to experience a long term study focused on marimba performance and repertoire while immersed in the musical language of the Polish marimba community that is inspired by centuries of musical tradition.

After completing my Fulbright grant I would like to:

After completing the Fulbright grant, I plan to compete in international marimba competitions and apply for percussion teaching positions in higher education. My goal is to teach percussion through a holistic musical approach, incorporating technique, musicality, music history, and music theory into each lesson. The method book I create while in Poland will be an essential resource for students to learn this unique musical language.