Music Biography
Community Music School — Trappe, PA
1996–1998
Formal study in guitar performance and music theory within a community-based conservatory environment.
Instruction and mentorship under Eric Sessler, Don Reese, and James Kinney.
Emphasis on foundational musicianship, theoretical literacy, and disciplined artistic development.
Berklee College of Music — Boston, MA
B.A. in Jazz Composition (2003)
Undergraduate formation in jazz composition and contemporary music practices, emphasizing harmonic language, improvisation, ensemble writing, and compositional craft.
Jazz Composition Faculty Studies:
Richard Davis
Greg Hopkins
Barry Nettles
Ken Pullig
Jeff Freidman
William Scism
Bob Pilkington
Scott Free
Formal guitar studies with Ben Sher, Jack Pezanelli, John Wilkins & John Thomas.
Private Studies with:
Dennis Sandole — Music Theory/Improvisation
Charlie Banacos — Jazz Improvisation
George Garzone — Saxophone
Joe Morris — Guitar
Bob Moses — Improvisation
Ben Schacter — Saxophone
Ben Monder — Guitar
Masterclasses/Seminars:
Pierre Boulez — Public Talk: “Pierre Boulez and French Modernism”
Mick Goodrick — Guitar
Alex Skolnick — Guitar
Chad Smith — Drums
Dave Liebman — Saxophone
Frank Tiberi — Saxophone
Chuck Loeb — Guitar
Kurt Rosenwinkel — Guitar
László Gardony — Piano
Jamey Haddad — Percussion
Tiger Okoshi — Trumpet
National Guitar Summer Workshop — Lakeside, CT (1999)
Immersive summer study in guitar performance, introducing intensive practice, ensemble experience, and national peer engagement.
Workshop’s included masterclasses/performances with Jim Hall, Jack Wilkins, Peter Bernstein, Howard Alden & Mark Dziuba.
Performed with Howard Alden during his masterclass.
Longy School of Music of Bard College — Cambridge, MA
M.A. in Modern American Music (2006)
Graduate-level study in modern American musical traditions, integrating composition, performance, analysis, and interdisciplinary musical thought.
Integrated curriculum included classes/training in:
Alexander Technique
Feldenkrais Technique
Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization
Eurythmy
Private Teachers included:
Thom Noren — Classical guitar
John Morrison — Composition
Stan Strickland — Saxophone/Flute
George Garzone — Improvisational Studies
Bob Gullotti — Improvisational Studies
John Lockwood — Improvisational Studies
Peter Cassino — Piano
Charlie Kohlhase — Ensemble
Dave Bryant — Ensemble (Harmolodic Approaches)
Masterclasses
Allen Forte (Yale) — Schoenberg’s Klavierstucke; serialism/atonal construction.
Pozzi Escot (NEC) — Music Theory
Robert Cogan (NEC)— Music Theory
Karl Berger — Improvisational Practices
Robert Willoughby — (Flute)
Bob Moses — Spirit Guide
Tisziji Munoz (NEC)— Guitar
Private Music Studies (2005-2024)
Page Hamilton — Guitar (2024)
Martin Bradfield — Drums/Rhythmic Studies (2018-2020)
Tony Marino — Bass
Ron Thomas — Piano (2013)
Ran Blake — Improvisation/Piano (2005)
Coursera Courses (2013)
From the Repertoire: Western Music History through Performance
The Curtis Institute of Music
A performance-centered exploration of Western art music, integrating historical context, stylistic analysis, and interpretive practice.Jazz Improvisation
Berklee College of Music
Focused study in modern jazz improvisation, emphasizing harmonic language, melodic development, rhythmic phrasing, and analytical listening.Write Like Mozart: An Introduction to Classical Music Composition (With Distinction)
National University of Singapore – Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
Intensive introduction to Classical-era compositional techniques, including voice leading, harmonic progression, phrase structure, and formal design.
Golandsky Institute Symposium — Princeton, NJ (2016)
Attended certificate-based intensive study in the Taubman Approach, focusing on bio-mechanically efficient piano technique, injury-preventive performance practice, and pedagogical applications.
Immersed in both lecture-demonstrations and live masterclasses, observing the application of Taubman principles across a wide range of repertoire and technical challenges.
Observed instruction from: Edna Golandsky, John Bloomfield, Robert Durso, Mary Moran.
Received personalized instruction from faculty member Yoriko Mizuno Fieleke.
Immaculata University
Music Teaching Certificate (2020) — G.P.A. 4.0
Formal preparation in music education, pedagogy, assessment, and professional instructional practice.
Earned a Pennsylvania State K-12 Music Teaching Certificate.
Became a full member of National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS).
Liberty University
Ph.D. in Music Education — In Progress
Advanced doctoral study focused on music education research, pedagogy, curriculum design, assessment, and philosophical foundations of music teaching and learning.
Member — Omega Nu Lambda Honor Society (2025)