Birthday: June 3

Hometown: Traverse City, MI

Family Status: Married

Children: None

Pets: 1 dog, a black lab named Samantha. We got her right after we moved here, through Lee and Melissa Livengood

Education: I attended Interlochen Arts Academy for my last 2 years of high school, and then graduated from DePaul University with my Bachelor’s degree and then got my Master’s degree from Northwestern University

Years served in the Orchestra: I’m in my 7th season!

Town most recently lived in (if you came from out of town): Norfolk, VA

Greatest accomplishment: Even though I grew up close to Lake Michigan, I didn’t know how to swim. 1 1/2 years ago I signed up for lessons, and last spring I completed my first triathlon (sprint distance)

Pet peeve: Off-leash dogs in the Avenues

Favorite composer: for Piccolo, Shostakovich

Favorite composition: this is hard to narrow down, so Shostakovich 8th or Mahler 2nd

Inspiration: Triathletes: I discovered the Ironman World Championship broadcast on TV 3 or 4 years ago, and I am just blown away by what those athletes are able to accomplish.

Favorite Movies: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation; it is a family tradition to watch it each year

Favorite Books (or authors): Mysteries

Most interesting thing few-to-no one knows about you: I had horses growing up, a Welsh Mountain Pony/Arabian named Kizzy, and also a Morgan named Liza. I was in 4-H, I started by showing my goat (our family had 9) and then competed in shows, riding English, and then doing Dressage with Liza.

Favorite Foods: Chips, Pho, Pasta/Noodles

Hobbies: Riding my bike, knitting, ceramics

Bad habit: Not picking up after myself

Three things always found in your refrigerator: Beer, Tofu, ketchup

Place you’d most like to be stranded: Leelanau County, Michigan

Most influential teacher (in Music or any other area): My teacher at DePaul, Mary Stolper. She has been an amazing teacher and mentor to me.

Professional experience before the Orchestra: 3rd Flute/Piccolo in the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and before that I was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and freelanced in the Chicago area

Luxury defined: Free time

If I didn’t play the ______, I’d play the _________.: I always have two instruments on the go, so that keeps me busy and from dreaming about playing other ones. In high school,though, I really wanted to play tuba in the marching band instead of flute.

If I weren’t a professional Musician I’d be a __________.: Veterinarian

What do you want the Community to know about us, or our job?: In addition to rehearsing as a group for our performances, we are putting in hours of practice each day on our own, and listening to recordings and studying scores to bring our best to the audience.