Music is a lifelong pursuit for me. I was raised in a family of excellent classical musicians, studied violin performance and teaching with renowned performers and master teachers, and I performed with a variety of symphony orchestras in the US and overseas. Along the way I discovered that fundamentally I enjoy sharing music with people who want more music in their lives. For me, teaching is the best part of making music. At any age people can develop skills and play for fun. For young people, studying music can do their developing brains a world of good. For adults, it can be a screen-free release from the daily grind.

Music is not just one domain. I thrive on exploring the range of styles that people love to play. When people find their musical jam, the fun of playing well naturally leads students to achieving their best performance skills.

Most recently I have expanded my teaching into Celtic fiddling. In 2023 and 2024 I was fortunate enough to spend several months touring Scotland. During this time abroad I had the opportunity to meet and play music with some of the best Celtic musicians while truly experiencing the role that traditional music plays in that culture. It brings people together. It lets people connect and enjoy being together while having fun with music. It was a delightful change of pace for someone raised in a highly competitive branch of the European classical music tradition, because the folk tradition focuses on the playful pure joy of sharing tunes and stories. This atmosphere is perfect for inspiring and motivating people to pick up their instruments and play more.

I deeply appreciate the training I received and the beautiful music I have had the opportunity to perform along the path of my classical education. I earned a Master of Education degree with a specialty in Arts in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education as well as a Master of Music and Suzuki Pedagogy from the Cleveland Institute of Music and Case Western Reserve University. I also hold a Bachelor of Music Degree in Violin Performance from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. Music in general and the violin in particular have been the central focus of my career so far. Along the way, I have branched out and played with an all female electric string quartet performing rock covers like Led Zeppelin tunes at weddings, performed for late night milongas with an Argentine Tango band, studied improvisation and a variety of fiddling styles, and taught probably thousands of students both in and out of school programs.

My goal in opening the Willow Fiddle School is to share my enthusiasm and experience in teaching violin with a new generation of students.  I offer instruction in both classical violin and traditional fiddling, and look forward to sharing a tune!