Information you may want to know

Before Work Began

I was born in Athens, GA (during one of the best winters in Georgia's history :) :) :) and grew up in Jackson County, which is about an hour north of Atlanta. I became a musician upon entering middle school, and thus began my saxophone study with Miles Adams. Music dominated my life for the next several years through the end of high school. I had to decide between studying music, technology, or medicine after high school. All three areas were of great interest. I decided to attend the University of Georgia to study music educaiton and saxophone with Dr. Kenneth Fischer. I ended my high school career earning the honor of Valedictorian.

Music also dominated my collegiate life. I was initiated as a brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and marched two years with the Redcoat Marching Band. I was involved with our chapter of (at the time) CMENC: Collegiate Music Educators National Conference, holding positions of Vice-President, President, and State Web Master. I performed in several ensembles including the UGA Philip Glass Ensemble and the award-winning Revolution Saxophone Quartet. In 2004, I graduated summa cum laude with the degree of Bachelor of Music in Music Education.

After Work Started

My first teaching gig was with Montgomery County Middle / High School in Mt. Vernon, GA. I was in charge of middle and high school band and chorus. It was a great learning experience, and after a year, I decided to move closer to home (Athens / Atlanta). From that date until the recently, I served as co-band director at J.E. Richards Middle School in Lawrenceville, GA. I had the pleasure of working with and learning from Jennifer Carwile during my tenure. It was during this gig, I decided to become serious about my percussion study. I studied privately for two years with Jonathan Kittell and joined the Peachtree Symphonic Winds as a percussionist. I also began my journey into graduate school studying at VanderCook College of Music and studying percussion with Kevin Lepper.

At the present, I am one summer from earning my Master's of Music Education degree. I was recently displaced from Richards Middle School, and am now at Pinckneyville Middle School serving as Assistant Band Director to Roland Ventura. This year (2010-2011) I will be the director of bands at Summerour Middle School.

Commentary

You'll notice only facts about school and work. For my X years on Earth (X = my current age), that's most of it. I do haved hobbies outside the two (obviously one is web building), but for the most part my life has been defined through my study and my work.