Musician, educator, and proud central Illinois native. I grew up just outside Springfield in the small town of Mechanicsburg, where I first fell in love with music after getting my first guitar at age seven. That spark quickly grew into a lifelong passion for playing, learning, and listening across genres.

By thirteen, I was playing in church, and by sixteen, I was performing in bands. I became fascinated by the contrast between styles—how church music could be simple and joyful, while metal was intricate and melodic. That curiosity led me to explore songwriting with a wide lens, embracing everything from worship to rock and beyond.

I’ve been teaching music for over eight years now, and I absolutely love helping students grasp complex ideas in simple, relatable ways. What started as group guitar lessons has grown into private and group instruction in drums, guitar, bass, piano, vocals, and songwriting. One of my favorite things is showing students how to pick up any instrument and play across genres with confidence and creativity.

I’ve had the privilege of teaching in a variety of settings—from homeschool academies here in central Illinois, to The Rehearsal Room Music School in Spring, Texas, the Frank and Linda Vala Dream Center in Springfield, and most recently, right here in the Gresheim Building in downtown Lincoln, Illinois.