New York Based Music Teacher, Saxophonist, and Composer
I am an elementary school music teacher by day and a saxophonist and composer at night. I am primarily a classical saxophonist and I helped to form the Cobalt Quartet, a saxophone quartet dedicated to playing the standard quartet repertoire, as well as new music.
I have been playing for over 20 years and have accomplished quite a bit in that time. As a soloist, I have premiered new works by Leo Kraft, John Szto, John Davison, Richard Brooks, Hubert Howe, and Sunhee Cho.
I have also performed John Williams’ saxophone concerto, Escapades, with the Queens College Orchestra, Fantasia by Claude T. Smith, and William Latham’s Double Concerto, both with the Queens College Wind Ensemble. As a member of a quartet, I have had the privilege of performing in many venues across NYC and New Jersey. I have performed works for the New York Composers Circle (of which I am a member), Concrete Timbre, and the Asian Women Composers Association of New York City. Currently, I am learning a piece by Jeffrey Niederhoffer and working on recording an album with my quartet.
Teaching Music
As a teacher, I have been teaching saxophone privately for over 15 years at all levels and ages. I have helped students get into music schools and obtain high scores at NYSSMA. I am currently an elementary school music teacher in the New York City public school system. I primarily teach Kindergarten, first and second grades and teach them how to read, write, perform and listen to music.
I am starting the music program at my current school and hope to start a band curriculum within a couple of years. I have also performed in Bach to School, an educational outreach program for students in the New York City area. The ensemble I was in would perform for students, have them participate in active listening activities, and answer any questions that they had.
Music Composition
In addition to performing and teaching, I have been composing music for over 10 years. I studied privately with John Wykoff and Mikael Karlsson while at Queens College. I have written chamber works, works for solo instruments, and music for animation and video, mostly for friends.
I am a part of the New York Composers Circle, a group of composers who share their music and have it performed in New York City. My music has been performed in New York, Denmark and South Korea. Currently, I am writing a 5 movement piano solo and a duet for flute and clarinet.
Musical Education
I began my musical journey when I was 5 years old on the piano. I played for a few years, then I began the saxophone at 10 years old in elementary school. I stuck with saxophone and eventually wound up at the Aaron Copland School of Music at CUNY Queens College, where I learned theory, aural skills and music history, and some jazz.
I have an undergraduate degree in music education and a master’s in classical saxophone performance. My primary teacher was Dr. Paul Cohen, a saxophone historian, musicologist, and performer.
Non-Music Professional & Personal Pursuits
Outside of the classroom, practicing, or composing, I enjoy exercising, films, board games, video games, reading, and spending time with family and friends. I am an Eagle Scout, and I like hiking and camping. I am also a bit of a Trekkie and Star Wars fan.