Welcome to my new website!

There have been a lot of changes in the past year, and it’s about time my website reflected that! 2022 saw a lot of changes, and 2023 flew by in the blink of an eye. Let’s regroup!

In 2022, I finished up an eventful spring season performing over 19 concerts with my ensembles in Houston. With MUSIQA, I recorded selections from Pierre Jalbert’s first piano quintet, performed “Cabaret of Shadows” by Laura Schwendinger at MATCH Theatre, and traveled to the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Arts to perform “LiveWire,” an interdisciplinary collaboration between Musiqa, Noble Motion Dance, and the University of Houston exploring the effects of live dance and music on the brain. I curated a program with Kinetic Ensemble at Archway Gallery in February centered around the works of local artist Maryam Lavaf. The program highlighted the works of female composers and the relationship female artists have with the natural world. This turned out to be one of my favorite performances the whole year, thanks to lovely collaborators, repertoire close to my heart, and the opportunity to combine live music, local art, and spoken word at a venue I’m particularly fond of in the heart of Montrose. With Da Camera of Houston, I finished up my three year fellowship in the Young Artist Program, continuing to teach arts-integrated lessons in Houston ISD and performing Olivier Messiaen’s Quatour pour la Fin du Temps at the Museum of Fine Arts in March. Community performances with Monarch Chamber Players took me all over Houston, performing in retirement facilities, schools, front porches, and more. I kept busy teaching, teaching technique classes at HSPVA, coaching chamber music with AFA, and working with my private students.

*With Tonya, Matt, Natalie, and Yelena after “She Wrote” with Kinetic Ensemble at Archway Gallery, February 2022. The beautiful artwork is by Maryam Lavaf.*

In the summer, I began my Suzuki training with Dr. Tanya Carey and relocated to Fort Worth to join my significant other, John, who recently won a spot in the cello section of Fort Worth Symphony. Leaving Houston was bittersweet to say the least! While I knew it was time to start a new chapter, saying goodbye to dear friends and the city I’d called home for six years was a big step.

Everything was lined up for the move when I received a call from my former high school and undergraduate professor in June. A special opportunity arose to teach at my alma mater, Oklahoma State University, while my professor went on sabbatical during the fall semester. It was an easy “yes.” After leaving my things in Fort Worth, John and I drove all the way from Fort Worth to Santa Cruz, CA, in July so I could perform at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music for two weeks. I’ve always wanted to do a big Southwest / West Coast road trip, and it didn’t disappoint. I love the desert!

*The cello section at Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music*

*Exploring the redwoods in Santa Cruz, California.*

Once fall arrived, working at OSU was a fantastic and rewarding experience. It was full circle to come back to my hometown and alma mater, reconnecting and collaborating with professors who had taught me when I was an undergraduate. I loved working with the cello studio and was able to perform a recital with Dr. Hyejin Cho, performing Robert Schumann’s Romances, Janacek’s Pohadka, and Poulenc’s Cello Sonata. I was also fortunate to participate in a recording project organized by Dr. Erin Murphy, which featured the works of American composer Vivian Fine. The CD, titled Dreamscape: Chamber Music for Flute is available on Spotify! I performed with Oklahoma City Philharmonic and Tulsa Symphony, two ensembles which are near and dear to my heart as an Oklahoma native. Before I knew it, the fall semester was over and I was headed back to Texas.

*A highlight from my recital at OSU was seeing my very first music teacher, Mr. Mahlon Halleck, in the audience. “I started her when she was five!” He exclaimed from the audience.*

In 2023, I finally settled into Fort Worth. After auditioning for Dallas Opera and making finals in February, I took a long and much needed sabbatical that had been pushed off since the prior summer. I continued my Suzuki teacher training with Dr. Tanya Carey, performed sparingly, and focused on rest and rejuvenation while adjusting to life in a new city. Hermit status was fully engaged! Happy news arrived in May when John and I got engaged, and we enjoyed lots of travel over the summer to visit family and friends in Minnesota, Colorado, San Francisco, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and more. We tied the knot in a small ceremony in October and have been enjoying life as newlyweds.

*A photo from the best day of 2023 - our wedding!*

Now we find ourselves in 2024! I’ve slowly emerged from my sabbatical, much like the early signs of spring I see beginning to bloom left and right. I’m looking forward to greenery and beautiful temperatures in the near future. My private studio has continued to grow and I look forward to that continuing as the year progresses. I’ve been happy to join Fort Worth Symphony for several of their concerts this season and to start up Candlelight Concerts right here in Panther City. I’ve also been enjoying getting to know Fort Worth, which reminds me of my favorite city in Oklahoma - Tulsa! There’s a great creative energy and art scene, as well as tasty coffee, amazing art museums, and greenery thanks to the Trinity Trails, Botanic Gardens, and nearby nature preserves.

*With one of my sweet students after performing with Fort Worth Symphony and Dallas Black Ballet Theatre in January 2024.*

I’ve always wanted to start a blog to keep friends, family, and colleagues updated in a way that feels more personal than an Instagram post, and I’m excited that this website update allows me to do so. After spending a year off of social media in 2023 to redevelop presence and gratitude in all areas of my life, I look forward to sharing more updates in my creative life and otherwise moving forward. Thanks again for visiting! 👋