How old were you when you first learned to play an instrument?

I started learning percussion when I was in fifth grade, and I started playing the snare drum in beginner band. However, as a kid, I loved playing on pots and pans with wooden spoons at my grandma’s house, so I knew from an early age that I wanted to play drums and percussion. In sixth grade, I started learning drum set and auxiliary percussion, and by the end of middle school, I was playing all kinds of percussion, including marimba and timpani.

What is your favorite type of music?

My favorite type of music is classical, and some of my favorite composers include Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, and Beethoven. In addition to classical, I listen to a wide variety of genres, including pop, rock, jazz, and funk.

What was your most memorable musical performance?

My most memorable performance was with the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra playing Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 at Symphony Hall in Boston. This is one of my favorite pieces of orchestral music, so it was very exciting to play it at such an incredible venue. I didn’t have any parts to play in the first four movements, so I got to sit and take in the beauty of the first hour of the piece. When it was finally time for me to play, I got to play snare drum for two of the most dramatic crescendos in classical music, rolling as loud as I possibly could for the peak of the crescendos. The most memorable part came at the end, where I was tasked with playing the ten-foot chimes in the work’s finale. Climbing up a ladder and standing on my toes, I hammered out the chime notes, experiencing one of the best finales in classical music perched above the entire orchestra.

What do you like most about teaching?

One of my favorite parts about teaching is seeing the growth in all of my students, both personally and musically. It is very rewarding to see a student’s confidence increase as they grow more comfortable with their instrument and as things that may have been challenging to begin with become easier. I love the moments when a student has been working hard at a new concept and it finally clicks for them, showing that their hard work and dedication has paid off.

When you’re not performing or teaching, what other hobbies or interests do you have?

When I’m not making music, I enjoy exploring new places, playing pickleball, and going to Red Sox games. I have been a huge Red Sox fan for my whole life, and I’ve probably gone to about 15 games in each of the past few seasons!