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1984 is the year my love for music became an obsession and a way of life. It was also the year I started to attend live concerts and continue to do so with great regularity.

 

With my musical skills honed from playing an instrument in the school band from fifth grade on, I was also enjoying the performance and theory of music, which I owe to my junior and high school music teacher, who always encouraged and inspired me to become a serious musician. The combination of my new love for recorded and live music and interest in the school music program led to me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in music education.

 

Returning home from college at the end of each school year, I found employment related to my love for music. Applying with hopes for a summer job as an usher at an outdoor concert venue, I was instead hired as a security guard for the stage and backstage areas. Absolutely a dream job for three summers, just the right amount of time, as most major artists would come through to support a new album every few years. I always had direct interactions with all the artists, in addition to being a “fly on the wall” with the same musicians I followed for years listening to pop radio and my stereo.

 

Upon graduating college, I began my search for my first teaching job. Unfortunately, in an extremely competitive field, I didn’t get the keys to my first classroom later that year. Realizing I wouldn’t be teaching in the fall, I submerged myself into the retail side of the music industry, first as a salesclerk, a secret shopper, and eventually manager for a major national record store chain. After a brief stint outside the music industry, I was hired by one of the five major music distributors. I worked in several capacities over the course of 13 years, gaining a wealth of experience in advertising, marketing, promotion, and sales. Once again, I found myself rubbing shoulders with the artists I grew up listening to, with much closer collaboration than at the concert venue.

 

As the industry shifted from physical product to digital and streaming, it was time to adapt to a new business model. I took a leap of faith with work as a freelance educator, splitting my time between teaching General Music courses and Choir at three private schools. I also applied for a position as a Music Director for a musical in my community, which led me to directing 50 shows in the world of musical theater. Through my interaction with adults and adolescents enrolled in these programs, I built a studio of private vocal and instrumental students that continues to grow.

   

I've had the pleasure of working the past few years for an entertainment organization with multiple concert venues, clubs, and restaurants. As with my past positions, I’ve had additional opportunities to learn more about the industry – venue retail operations, booking, and developing performance opportunities for community musicians. I'm very proud to say that I've returned to my first love, teaching music to adolescents and leading a music program at a suburban school system. School music programs are the life blood of encouraging our youth to learn to play and read music and extending the joys of music and history to future generations.

 

The common thread throughout these experiences is the stories – so many to share with you! Hope you check back often for updates about the artists you love to listen to and learn about. Looking forward to having you on this musical journey with me, where we can share our love for All Things Music!