In the PSO since: 2022
Lives in: Barrington, NH
At what age did you start playing the instrument you play in the PSO?
I started playing the flute when I was 8 years old and just entering third grade. I dabbled with piccolo in high school but didn’t really get serious about it until I was in my undergrad.
Did you learn another instrument first? If so, which one?
Flute was my very first instrument. I’ve learned other instruments since then, including the various types of flute (piccolo, alto, bass, and baroque flute), piano, oboe, and irish tin whistle.
Why did you choose your current instrument?
I was so excited to join the school band in fourth grade and wanted to begin on an instrument as soon as possible. We still had my mom’s flute from when she was in high school so I started learning on that and played that instrument all the way up until high school. While that flute barely plays now, I still have it and cherish it!
How long have you played with the PSO?
I joined the orchestra in winter of 2022 as a substitute flute/piccolo and the following season I became a full member of the orchestra.
Do you play with other groups? If so, which ones?
PSO is the only group I regularly play with, though I am a substitute flute/piccolo for various orchestras in New England. I also freelance and love performing with chamber groups.
What do you like about playing with a symphony orchestra?
I love the depth and the harmonies of the orchestra! It’s so much fun to work as a team passing melodies and harmonies from one section to the next and bringing the audience along for the ride. Sitting in the woodwind section puts you right in the middle of everything so you can really get swept away in the sound. It’s enough to give you goosebumps.
What is your favorite piece to play on your instrument?
This is such a tough question! I’m not sure I can pick a favorite, but I can say that my favorite pieces to perform are all composed after the turn of the 20th century. I focused on New Music in grad school and am particularly drawn to the music of George Crumb and Kazuo Fukushima. Both composers are brilliant in their use of tone and timbral colors, gestures, and silence to convey different emotions and pictures within the music. They both utilize the flute extremely well and show the full depth of the instrument. I also love Poulenc and Hindemith though!
Tell us about your musical education.
I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Flute Performance from the University of Southern Maine, where I studied with Jean Rosenblum, and my Master’s in Flute Performance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst under the guidance of Christopher Krueger. While in graduate school, I also studied piccolo and Irish flute with Ellen Redman, piccoloist of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. Before joining the PSO, I spent eight and a half years working as a piccolo finisher at Burkart Flutes & Piccolos, where I gained invaluable hands-on experience and had the opportunity to further refine my playing.
How do you spend your time outside of the PSO?
I teach flute and piano at Manchester Community Music School, Concord Community Music School, as well as the Flute Section of the Woodwind Methods class at UNH. Outside of music, I love creating things with my hands and am an avid knitter, sewer, baker and DIYer. Lately, I’ve been diving into home improvement projects – most recently learning how to tile my own bathroom floor! I also have two young sons who keep me very busy!
Beyond musician, do you serve in any additional role(s) with the PSO?
I joined the PSO staff in 2022 and currently serve as General Manager. In this role, I oversee the orchestra’s day-to-day operations, including concert and event logistics, marketing, and donor and sponsor engagement. I’m fortunate to work alongside a passionate team dedicated to advancing the PSO’s mission and fostering a vibrant future for orchestral music in our community.
