Music has been one of the most beloved and important gifts given to me.

 

I was born and raised in Wilson, North Carolina -- a small town bursting at the seams with musical opportunities. Both of my parents are very musically inclined, and they understood the importance of giving me as much exposure to music as possible at a very young age. As a baby, I was singing tunes before I could even form words. One of my earliest memories is being a two-year-old watching my mom and dad perform onstage in a community production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

 

As a child, I would stare at the television screen and watch The Wizard of Oz repeatedly, while wearing ruby slippers that my parents couldn’t convince me to take off. They knew at that point, that I was “born to entertain.” 

 

At the age of three, I began taking violin lessons and singing in church. My middle school years were the official start of my participation in choral groups and community theatre. It was at this point that I developed a burning passion for all things music. My high school years were full of a combination of musical theater, choral singing, and classical voice. Although I continued my violin studies through my senior year of high school, by that time singing had become my focus, and I began dreaming of a future in which I could make voice my career one day.

 

I chose to major in Vocal Performance at East Carolina University, where I quickly began to follow a classical singing path. I was able to sing in a world-renown chamber choir, as well as perform in my very first operas. I moved to Greensboro, NC for my master’s degree in Vocal Performance at UNC-Greensboro in 2013, and have been here ever since. I love the sense of community that Greensboro has to offer, and love that I can call it my home. My amazing husband, Derek, is also a gifted singer, and we enjoy every opportunity to perform together. In our free time, we love to travel, watch more reruns of The Office than you can count, and snuggle with our Irish Setter, Beesly, and our English Setter, Bonnie. When not in Greensboro, you can usually find us at Topsail Beach, one of our favorite places in the world. 

 

I have been fortunate enough to perform locally and around the world. And when I began teaching voice and violin lessons from my home a couple of years ago, I discovered more joy than I could have ever imagined. Being able to perform and share my gifts with others, as well as teach music to those in the community, makes me feel like I am truly living the dream! Although this career certainly has a multitude of challenges, I would not have it any other way. Life is way too short not to be doing what you love every single day.