The moment I knew what I wanted to do…

​As a follower of Jesus in the arts, I desire to glorify God through inspiring teaching and engaging performances.

​A committed educator, I seek to encourage and develop the potential of each of my students and model what it means to be a lifelong learner. When I perform, I strive to play with beauty, creativity, and excellence – reflecting my Creator’s attributes.

Growing up in a supportive, musical family in rural Minnesota offered me the privilege of studying piano, flute, and oboe privately from elementary through high school. (I even tried bass guitar, saxophone, and trombone.) When I began collegiate study, I decided to make oboe my primary instrument, flute my
secondary, and piano my tertiary.

​I received both my Bachelor of Music (University of Minnesota Duluth) and Master of Music (Baylor University) degrees in Oboe Performance. I also obtained teaching certificates in elementary-high school music and higher education. I have taught music to elementary through college students in a variety of settings and served as an orchestra operations coordinator at a university as well. I have performed in solo recitals, chamber and wind ensembles, and symphony orchestras. (I have also worked as a church administrator, bookkeeper at an airplane manufacturer, and school administrative assistant.)

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Credentials and Awards

Bachelor of Music in Oboe Performance - University of Minnesota Duluth
Master of Music in Oboe Performance - Baylor University
Teaching Certificate in Higher Education - Baylor University
​Teaching Certification in Early Childhood - Grade 12 Music - McLennan Community College
Certificate in Arts Management - University of California Irvine
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council McKnight/Arts and Cultural Heritage Individual Artist Fellowship Grant Recipient
Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society Member

Why Teach?

In studying several instruments privately, I had the overwhelmingly good gift of learning from many amazing musicians.

My teachers provided nurture and encouragement to guide me, constructive criticism to challenge me, and, most importantly, a safe place for me to learn from mistakes, grow, and flourish in music and life.

Their willingness to be there for me as I struggled to understand new music concepts and to lend a listening ear when I needed to share my heart shaped me instrumentally.

I am still inspired by their lives and musicianship and continue to connect with some of them to this day. I pray their investments in me pay dividends to all my students and their families.

I believe I have been blessed to be a blessing!

Through music, I have also been able to collaborate with people from all over the world. I am so grateful for these relationships and music-making moments that I think portray a glimpse of Heaven.

Whether it was touring with a Turkish orchestra or setting a double reed band world record in Spain, music has been and continues to be an avenue for me to experience more of God at work in His story.

Outside Music

When I am not pursuing a musical endeavor, I enjoy going on adventures with my husband (listening to his dad jokes) and exploring with my son (who also provides comic relief), serving in our church’s global outreach ministries (including its ESL ministry), studying theology at Biola University, reading, hiking (in Minnesota – where there’s lakes, waterfalls, and evergreens, not southern California – where there’s desert, rattlesnakes and cacti), drinking pumpkin mochas (while wearing flannel during a Minnesota fall) or boba tea (while wearing a sunhat during a southern California winter), and spending time with my
extended family, church family, and friends.