My story

Whether I was singing in a local children’s choir or doing my silent, physical comedy routine in the display window of my mother’s gift shop for passersby on the street, I’ve always cherished storytelling and creating for people.

When I was twelve I auditioned for my first musical and was amazed by the sense of community being fostered within the walls of the theater; I went through my day at school practically shaking with anticipation as I thought about getting to rehearsal, and being surrounded by my goofy new friends who sang, danced and worshiped the soundtrack to Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory as much as I did.

I began taking private voice lessons at 14, where I was introduced to the Western classical music canon. Mozart, Beethoven, Puccini, Kurt Weill — bless you Laurel Beard (associate professor at Illinois Wesleyan University, Musical Theatre).

As I grew older, I took what I’d learned from the greats and began applying the vocal technique that was being ingrained in my body to contemporary music such as pop, musical theatre, and poetic.