I have taught violin and viola lessons, ranging from beginner to intermediate, since I was in high school! I recently completed my Master of Music in Viola Performance and Pedagogy this May. During my graduate studies, I taught private lessons and coached chamber ensembles for the Peabody Preparatory through their Performance/Pedagogy emphasis program. I was also a part of the Peabody Interplay Program, teaching undergraduate students at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). My undergraduate degree is in Violin Performance, so I feel equally comfortable teaching either instrument. I also have experience teaching group violin classes through The Bridges Program, which provided free instruments and group classes to students in Baltimore City Public Schools. In addition to my own private studio, I currently teach for Patterson Park Academy of Music.

When I'm not teaching, practicing, or performing, I love trying new coffee shops and bakeries, going thrifting, and hosting friends! I played sports for many years before I ever picked up an instrument, and I love when my students also have diverse interests outside of music. I played soccer for twelve years! I love being active outside just as much as I love playing music, and the discipline that I cultivated through athletics has guided my approach to performing and teaching music. Lastly, I hope to visit Europe someday, and some of my favorite movies are Ratatouille and WALL-E!

My Journey as a Musician:

I first started learning violin through my public school’s music program at age 9, and I will be honest, I hated it and wanted to quit within the first few months of starting! Thankfully, my mom told me to stay in lessons through the end of the year, and then I could decide if I still wanted to quit. Luckily, I grew to enjoy it enough to continue playing violin throughout middle school, however, I never took my practice very seriously. At that point, my favorite part of music was the friends and community I had through school orchestra. My three closest friends were all in orchestra with me, and some of my favorite memories from those years were made together in rehearsals, concerts, and performances.

When I was fifteen, I went to my first live Broadway touring musical, and I absolutely LOVED it! I loved it so much that it inspired me to start an Instagram page dedicated to posting musical theatre covers on violin. Eventually, I discovered the classical music community on Instagram, and my page evolved into sharing practice videos and practice challenges. I quickly realized how much I loved the challenges that came with learning violin. I loved being part of an orchestra, playing in musical theatre orchestra pits with my friends, and pushing myself every day to become a better player. I also loved sharing the ups and downs of the practice room with people online and connecting with musicians who lived far away and had completely different lives and experiences from mine.

That Instagram page eventually played a huge role in inspiring me to pursue music professionally. Once I started taking my practice seriously, my progress skyrocketed, and I began to realize just how much I loved learning and making music. Music became the center of my life, and I so badly wanted others to experience the wonderful joys of music, too. This is what drew me to becoming a teacher!

One thing unique about my musical journey is that I remember every step of it. Many professional musicians don’t remember much from their first years of learning, but I remember what my life was like before music, what it felt like to be a complete beginner, and all of the little steps that brought me to where I am today. I think this helps me to understand my students on a deeper level!

Professional Bio