If you've ever seen a musical, then you know exactly the kind of household in which I was raised.  Just picture a Northwoods home in Duluth, Minnesota, in which a closely knit family is known to burst into song at any moment.  And if you ask anyone who has married into our family, they'll say we have a song for everything.  We also like to accompany ourselves.  With my dad on guitar, mom on piano, and countless instruments between cousins and siblings, we've always got some kind of music wafting through the air.  I guess I was born to be a musician.

I started my journey by playing piano at age 5, which caused an avalanche of instruments to follow in the subsequent years: flute, cello, saxophone, and soon I had learned them all after completing my music teaching degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2010.  Well, I did have some time in there in which I studied flute exclusively.  In fact, my first degree is in music performance, also from UWEC. After graduation, I pursued my flute career by studying in England with a world-renowned flutist, Trevor Wye.  I came back to the United States early, though, as a neck injury was only causing more pain the more I played the flute.  It was time to reassess the situation.  I built a flute studio, and taught for a few years, but it just wasn't enough for me.  So, I re-enrolled in school, and that is when I came to realize the great joy of sharing music with youngsters.

I am so lucky to be a part of the community here, not only at Prairie Ridge, but as a Kansan.  I know they talk about Minnesota nice, but I have not seen friendlier folks than those I've met here.  I am thoroughly enjoying my experiences in Kansas, and feel right at home.  Thanks for such a warm welcome!