About Me
Artist Statement
Of music...
To me, music is one of the most primal forms of expression available to us as human beings. It is a pervasive commonality amongst all cultures on earth, and it is used to connect to some of the most profound human experiences from ebuillient joy to painful loss. It is an art form that creates a community through the experience of it. It connects us to our past, our present, to our future and to each other.
Of bassoon...
Every instrument strives to emulate the most natural and organic of musical instruments, the human voice. To be compared to the human voice is to receive high praise, and the bassoon has received this comparison by writers throughout history. I believe it is a great disservice to the instrument and to music to write it off as the "clown of the orchestra" because it has such great potential to produce a sound of unimaginable beauty. I also believe that it is an instrument that deserves wider recognition within mainstream culture, and I make it my goal in life to provide this exposure through solo recitals, lectures, and through teaching.
Of historical performance...
Growing up in a religious household, I was always taught to put scripture in its historical and cultural context in order to fully understand a given situation or story. In doing so, it creates a sort of dialogue with writings from the past that expands and deepens our understanding of our past and of ourselves. I believe this same idea applies to music. By engaging with the musical sources of our past, we come to a greater understanding of who we are as musicians and how music is relevant for our lives today and for our future.
To me, music is one of the most primal forms of expression available to us as human beings. It is a pervasive commonality amongst all cultures on earth, and it is used to connect to some of the most profound human experiences from ebuillient joy to painful loss. It is an art form that creates a community through the experience of it. It connects us to our past, our present, to our future and to each other.
Of bassoon...
Every instrument strives to emulate the most natural and organic of musical instruments, the human voice. To be compared to the human voice is to receive high praise, and the bassoon has received this comparison by writers throughout history. I believe it is a great disservice to the instrument and to music to write it off as the "clown of the orchestra" because it has such great potential to produce a sound of unimaginable beauty. I also believe that it is an instrument that deserves wider recognition within mainstream culture, and I make it my goal in life to provide this exposure through solo recitals, lectures, and through teaching.
Of historical performance...
Growing up in a religious household, I was always taught to put scripture in its historical and cultural context in order to fully understand a given situation or story. In doing so, it creates a sort of dialogue with writings from the past that expands and deepens our understanding of our past and of ourselves. I believe this same idea applies to music. By engaging with the musical sources of our past, we come to a greater understanding of who we are as musicians and how music is relevant for our lives today and for our future.