I enjoy a career combining music, words, and art, all driven by a passion to share music’s broad and vibrant appeal. My cello playing has taken me to six countries, countless venues (from opulent halls to rainy clearings in the woods), and up some ridiculously steep and bumpy dirt roads (ask me about that if you have time for my stand-up comedy routine).
One of my greatest joys is conveying the energy and immediacy of music: the drama of an unexpected chord change, the broad story arc of a movement, and the nearly psychic connection of players who move as one. To bring the audience into the circuit of wordless understanding is electric.
Improvised chamber music, in which all of those elements unfold in unspoken conversation, has been my newest interest the past couple of years. Formal chamber music instruction and flexible, adaptable gigging skills prepared me to jump right in to music-making with the High Country Improv Collective. The flow state can be truly incredible, whether in our weekly music-making together or with a live audience tuning in to our interactions.
Closely intertwined with my cello playing is my public speaking about music. Whether in a large concert hall or at a gig at a private home, my presentations involve engaging storytelling, a touch of humor, and entry points for audiences of all musical experience levels. It brings me joy when the things I know and care about can become meaningful to others.
As my day job, I am the Community Engagement Specialist at Appalachian State University’s Hayes School of Music. This is a unique full-time staff position that includes marketing for the school’s concerts and degree programs and running many aspects of the historic Cannon Music Camp. I also spent two years as the Director of the Community Music School there. I graduated from App State in 2019 with my Master of Music in Cello Performance and immediately put my degree to work in arts administration while continuing to perform! This setup enables me to focus my personal time on the engagements that most align with my artistic vision. It has also prepared me to advocate for a variety of paths to a meaningful music career - and the value of lifelong music engagement for anyone and everyone.
I play cello regularly for weddings in the High Country, Charlotte and Asheville areas, primarily with Deans’ Duets. I have performed as a soloist with orchestra and have given solo recitals in the U.S. and Japan. In addition, I have taught cello and English lessons, sold and exhibited original artwork, and drawn a 100-issue webcomic series. Some of my art can be seen on this cello site, and you can also visit my main art website, thelyricimage.com, which admittedly has not been updated in a while.
My home since 2016 has been Boone, North Carolina, a college town in the mountainous northwest corner of the state. Originally from Stone Mountain, Georgia, I earned a Master of Music in Cello Performance from Appalachian State University in 2019 and a B.A. in Music and Art from Furman University in 2011.
