Q: Where are you from?

A: I am from Oak Ridge, Tennessee. It’s about 90 minutes north of Cleveland and very close to the Knoxville area.

Q: What brought you to Lee?

A: What brought me to Lee was the orchestra program. Back when I toured Lee, I got the opportunity to sit in on a rehearsal for an upcoming concert and was very impressed by the talent and musicianship of everyone in there- I had to be a part of it! 

Q: There are so many instruments out there, what made you decide to play the Viola? What do you like about it?

A: My decision to take up Viola is interesting: It all started back in the 4th grade when two women held an assembly to convince us fourth graders to join the orchestra program in the winter. I told my mom I wanted to do it, and so come January, I was enrolled. The women handed out sheets of paper containing the instruments (violin, viola, cello, bass) to choose from. So, I looked over my options. The violin, I thought, would be “too common” (all my friends were choosing it!); the cello and bass looked far too expensive for me… and then I saw the Viola. I had never heard of this instrument before, and I thought the name sounded cool, so I chose it! I love playing Viola; it has a beautiful sound, some great melodic and harmonic passages in plenty of pieces, and it’s essentially a portable cello! What’s not to love?

Q: Tell us about some of your favorite classes you’ve taken in the S.O.M.!

A: This is a hard question, but I think if I had to choose, it would be Theory IV. It taught me about the world of atonality, and it really helped me grow in my taste in music and as a composer; as it turns out, pushing the boundaries of tonality can lead to some beautiful, powerful works!

Q: If you had to list one, what is your favorite thing about the School of Music? What makes it so special?

A: The greatest thing about the School of Music is the community. Everyone here is very nice and supportive; you can make a lot of friends here!

Q: What is music to you? (i.e. what does it mean to you, why do you love it, how is it impactful…? etc)

A: Music is a huge part of my life. Since I am a composer, I am always listening to music to find inspiration for another piece I will work on. Being able to sit down and listen to a symphony or other work is very satisfying- I love hearing all the small details that go into a work.

Q: What would you tell a prospective student who is looking into Lee’s School of Music?

A: If I were to speak to a potential music major coming to Lee, I would tell them that they would be welcome with open arms. The community is great, the teachers care about you and are willing to help you, as well as push you academically. It’s a college you will not regret attending.