Why did you choose the USC School of Music?

I was offered excellent scholarships, both from the School of Music and the South Carolina Honors College, where I was a McNair Scholar.

What person, course or experience was most influential for you while at the School of Music? 

Dr. Connie Lane, my flute professor, was such an important influence on me at USC. Her support and mentorship taught me so much about musicianship, of course, but also about leadership and life.

How has your education at the USC School of Music helped you in your life and career? 

I often think that the balance of having a strong music education alongside excellent academics is what has led me to my career today. After USC, I pursued a conservatory-level master’s degree and Artistic Diploma, and my well-rounded undergraduate education gave me so many opportunities. I also feel incredibly grateful for the opportunities I had at USC to do freelance performance work alongside many faculty. I played a huge amount of orchestral repertoire as a freelancer, and it gave me a fantastic education in listening for quality. As President & CEO, my role now is both business and artistic leadership. The educational foundation I built at USC was incredibly important to all the work I do now, whether it's raising money, selecting and hiring conductors and soloists, writing strategic plans, or working on new projects with artists.

What is one of your favorite memories, classes, professors or activities while attending the School of Music? 

Dr. Reginald Bain was one of my very favorite professors. I always found his classes interesting and funny, and I loved how my curiosity grew in them. My senior year, I was taking a class outside the School of Music about physics and acoustics; the longtime professor of that class became ill, and we were assigned a professor who had never dealt with the subject matter before. After I brought some questions to Dr. Bain, he wound up tutoring many of us on the complex material. I'm actually using a lot of what I learned in that class right now, as I'm finalizing the architectural and acoustic plans for a new indoor venue I'm building at Britt!

What advice would you give current students or recent graduates pursuing a music performance or music education career? 

Keep your imagination open! So often, we get the advice that a music degree means you'll be playing your instrument and cobbling gigs together to earn a living. There are so many interesting ways to use a music degree, so stay curious!   

What is one of your proudest professional or personal accomplishments that occurred after graduating from the School of Music in which your education played a role?

Several years ago, I was hired to build an arts and humanities program at Grace Cathedral, the Episcopal Cathedral in the heart of San Francisco. As part of that work, I created an Artist in Residence program. That program continues today, and has included luminaries like Anna Deavere Smith, Anne Patterson, Bobby McFerrin, Mason Bates and many more. The program was written up a few years ago in The New York Times as the heart of San Francisco's artistic counterculture. I'm so proud of creating things like this that live on after I've left an organization!

What ensembles were you a member of while at USC?

Carolina Band; Chamber Ensemble(s); University Band; USC Symphonic Winds; USC Symphony Orchestra; USC Wind Ensemble; African Dance and Drumming Ensemble

What is currently playing on repeat on your Spotify/Pandora/Apple Music, etc.?

Neko Case, Flock of Dimes, Waxahatchee and Joni Mitchell have been on repeat this summer!

Please share any recent accomplishments, major life events, awards, etc.

At Britt, I've spent a lot of time on government advocacy. Over the last two years, I've led advocacy to pass two bipartisan, bicameral state bills that protect patrons from fraudulent ticket scalping and scamming. They're among the strongest patron protection bills in the country and are being used as model legislation for other states! I'm also about to break ground on a major construction project; Britt purchased a National Historic Landmark building in Jacksonville, Oregon, and we are transforming it into a performance venue and education center. If all goes well, we'll move in sometime in late 2028!