Appearances
Aspen Conducting Academy Clarinet Fellow, 2024–26; Brevard Music Festival, 2023
Was there a teacher who was particularly impactful/helpful? What made this instructor stand out?
Michael Rusinek during my time at Carnegie Mellon. He emphasized the importance of fundamentals and pushed me to develop good practice habits and have interpretations that are both accurate and musical.
Is there a person or people you most respect in your field and why?
Richie Hawley’s creative approach to music and dedication to teaching was really inspiring. He made me think outside the box and reminded me that no one would ever complain I’m playing “too musically.”
Do you have a favorite non-classical musician or band?
Taiwanese singer Jay Chou; he’s a classically trained pianist and started as a songwriter/composer before starting his own singing career.
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing?
I’m a really big F1 fan so I think I’d either be a race car driver or engineer.
What is a surprising part of playing your instrument that you think most people don’t know?
The mouthpiece of a clarinet isn’t made of wood like the rest of the instrument, but out of hard rubber.
What is the biggest challenge and/or surprise about playing in an orchestra?
Knowing the different tuning tendencies of your colleagues and adjusting depending on your place in each chord.
What advice would you give your younger self or anyone starting out?
Practice doesn’t make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect.
What do you wish you knew starting out that you know now?
Never stop doing your fundamentals.