Where were you born and (if different) where did you grow up?
I grew up in Jamestown, NY, which is just about as far west as you can travel in NY before hitting Pennsylvania. Fun fact: it’s Lucille Ball’s hometown.
Current residence and marital status/family (including pets):
Madison CT, where I live with my wife and newborn son.
Education:
B.Mus., SUNY Fredonia (Music Education and Performance)
Performer’s Certificate, SUNY Fredonia
M.Mus., Yale University
Performer in Residence 2010-2011, Carnegie Mellon University
When did you start playing with the VSO?
Winter of 2019/2020
Other current jobs besides VSO:
Norwalk Symphony, principal bass; Springfield Symphony, assistant principal bass; Shoreline Youth String Ensemble, conductor; and lots of private teaching & workshops
Favorite composer: Edvard Grieg
Hobbies: hiking/mountain climbing, world travel, and photography
How did you get started in music? I grew up in a very musical family. My mother was a pianist, trumpeter, and church organist, and both my parents were heavily involved in the community theater scene. I basically grew up backstage, and was playing bass in a musical pit band by age 11. Aside from singing, my first instrument was bass guitar. I credit my public school music teachers for laying the groundwork for my professional career, though. Over the course of my public schooling, I played bass, cello, viola, alto, tenor, & baritone saxophones, piano, tuba, and sang in the choir. A real crash-course in music-making!
Describe a typical day: There’s really no “typical” these days, but my favorite days begin with coffee, a bit of practicing, lunch, followed by driving to rehearsal and spending the afternoon and evening preparing a concert with my wonderful orchestra colleagues.
Dream job if not musician: I can’t imagine not being a musician, but I think I would have been a halfway decent engineer. I love to tinker and repair things.
Secret ambition: Spend more time traveling the world – maybe go on tour!
Favorite vice: A good local IPA
People would be surprised to know that: I’m an award-winning chili chef.
Best advice I ever got: “The one thing every successful musician has in common? They never stopped trying.”
Favorite way to spend an evening: Sitting in front of a fireplace on a cold night with my family after a long day on a mountain.
Pet peeve: When my socks get wet.
I’m most proud of: That I get to do what I love for a living.