I contribute my success as a musician to being raised by two very talented musicians as my parents. My father has been a percussionist and guitarist since a young age, and both of my parents are very talented when they approach a vocal part. I inherited my father's talent of being able to pick up different instruments and learn them with ease, and I inherited my mother's wonderful voice. Without these foundations laid in front of me, I would never have been the situation I am today and I am grateful for them.
I started my formal music education in 6th grade band at Noblesville Intermediate School. I participated in the percussion section for 3 years before entering high school. It was in high school that my musical options started to open up. I spent my first 3 years learning the fundamentals of my primary instrument and the fundamentals of what was required to play in an ensemble. During my high school years, I participated in the concert band for 4 years and was principal percussionist for 2 years. I was given the honor of performing with the marching band for 6 seasons. Of those 6 seasons, I was the drum line captain for 2 seasons, drum major for 1, and trombone/baritone section leader for 1. I also participated in the Winter Percussion program once it was established my sophomore year and was drum line captain my last 2 of 3 seasons.
My soloist and small ensemble career was started my sophomore year of high school when my band director asked me if I was interested in performing in ISSMA's Solo and Ensemble Contest. I jumped at the opportunity and received 3 golds at District Solo and Ensemble and a gold at State Solo and Ensemble my senior year on the marimba. I also received a silver for a marimba quartet that was entered in Group I my senior year.
It was during high school that teachers from other departments started to broaden my horizons on what I could do in the performing arts department at my school. I performed with the high school concert orchestra and symphonic orchestra for 2 years at the District ISSMA Contest as the sole percussionist, I played drum set for 1 season of both the all women's and mixed show choirs, and I was the drum set player for the musical, "Once Upon a Mattress" that our theatre department put on. But besides my performance opportunities being broaden, I was also involved in guitar class and AP Music Theory my senior year. I took guitar class to help learn more about common chord progressions in music and how to implement them through the guitar. AP Music Theory was suggested to me my senior year by the theory professor at my high school. He let me skip beginning music theory and jump into the advance theory class because of the potential I showed in my earlier years.
As I transitioned into my college career as a musician and music education student, I jumped at familiar ensembles like the Pride of Mid-America Marching Band. I was able to find my place at Ball State through this ensemble from my experience in high. I have performed 4 seasons with the marching band and have been the bass drum captain for 2 of those seasons. From there I built up and joined ensembles like the concert band, Women's Chorus, Choral Union, and the Marimba Ensembles. I was able to perform at the one of the spring commencement ceremonies with the Ball State Wind Ensemble. I have also participated in the basketball band for one season on trombone.
During my sophomore year, I pledged Sigma Alpha Iota International Fraternity for Women in the Field of Music. During my senior year, I served as the Vice President of Membership on the Executive Board.
The highlight of my performance experience during my college career was in the Spring of 2012 with my Junior Recital. I performed solos and duets like the Two Mexican Dances by Gordan Stout, the Marimba Concerto by Ney Rosauro, Saturday in January by John Curtis, Losa by Emmanuel Sejourne, and Wooden Music by Rich O'Meara.
I finished my Ball State career student teaching with Mr. Charles Kunz at Fishers High School in Fishers, IN. I was able to work with all 5 concert bands, 2 jazz ensembles, and the basketball pep band. In addition to working with the performing ensembles, I was able to work with the AP Music Theory class in their preparation for the AP Exam.