I’m thrilled to announce several honors I received at the end of 2015. In November, my article “Healthy Habits for Musical Productivity” was published in the Percussive Arts Society’s Percussive Notes. In December, I was awarded the ASU GPSA JumpStart Research Grant for my commissioning project and collaboration with Dr. Garth Paine. The funding helped to obtain materials needed for the creation of the work and for continued performances.
After a busy Fall finishing up the requirements for my DMA degree, December continued at a fast pace with many holiday performances and travel plans. I performed with the traveling Cirque Musica show, the Park Ridge Civic Orchestra, the Northwest Festival Orchestra, and several local churches. I also traveled back to Phoenix to walk at my final graduation ceremony, and was joined at the ceremony with my ASU professor, J.B. Smith (pictured below). I even got to check a huge item off of my bucket list when I saw a Packers game at Lambeau Field. The atmosphere and game (Packers won) was incredible and will be something I always remember.
After traveling to Seattle for the holidays and visiting family, January has brought a new semester of teaching private lessons and classes, along with time to begin new creative projects. I am very thrilled to be joining the Fifth House Ensemble for several tour dates in February, March, and April. I will be the percussionist for their innovative live production of the video game “Journey.” To read more about it and contribute to the project, click HERE.