My Education

MM in Historical Musicology - December 2015

University of South Dakota (Vermillion, SD)

Thesis title: “LESSONS IN MUSICAL EXCELLENCE: THE PEDAGOGICAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF GEORGE WHITEFIELD CHADWICK”

BA in Music Education - May 2002

Luther College (Decorah, IA)

Senior Project title: “Transcribing White Mensural Notation”

Recent Teaching Experience

Orchestra Director - 2021 to present

Sheridan High School and Sheridan Junior High School (Sheridan, Wyoming)

  • Conducts an orchestra program of 100 players spread across 7 string and symphonic ensembles. Students perform a wide variety of masterworks from the standard orchestral repertoire.

  • coaches and prepares 2 chamber ensembles for school and community performance

  • teaches individual lessons on cello and String Bass

  • Organizes student travel throughout Wyoming and the Northwest and Rocky Mountain US regions.

IB Diploma Music Instructor -2015 to 2021

Seoul Foreign School (Seoul, South Korea)

  • Taught music composition, music history, and music theory to high level secondary students interested in music related careers

  • Organized and oversaw a program of 5 solo recital performance opportunities

  • Advised students on a long-term project involving independent ethnomusicological research.

Orchestra Director - 2015 to 2021 (High School) 2015-2020 (Middle and High School)

Seoul Foreign School (Seoul, South Korea)

  • Oversaw an orchestra program of 150 players spread across 5 string and symphonic ensembles. Students performed a wide variety of masterworks from the standard orchestral repertoire. (CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO A PERFORMANCE)

  • Coached and prepared Chamber ensembles for community performance

  • Served as musical (pit orchestra) director for the annual High School Musical

  • Organized student travel around the world to participate in honor orchestra festivals (While overseas I organized student travel within Korea as well as to China, New York, The Philippines, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and Norway).

For my Complete Curriculum Vitae, Click HERE

Why I teach:

I am an enthusiastic musician and educator whose top priority is working to foster a love of music in my students while challenging them to grow both as learners and human beings. I hope, through my teaching to establish a learning  environment for students that will encourage their passion and discipline as musicians, as well as guide them towards excellence in their artistic endeavors.