Greetings!

I have been teaching for 14 years and hold a BME from Indiana State University and a MME from a VanderCook a College of Music in Chicago.  In May of 2004, I was hired as the Hobart Band's twentieth director.  

My wife, Amber, and I have been together since 1994 (marching band romance).  We have three children: twins, Madeline and Sydney; and our youngest, Elliott.  We live in Valparaiso with our dog, Cody, and my wife's cat, Pumpkin.

As a professional musician, I have performed trombone with the Windiana concert band, LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra, South Shore British Brass Band, North Coast Big Band, Star Orchestra, and numerous community musicals and smaller engagements.  I have been fortunate to study privately with fantastic music educators: Dr. Randy Mitchell, trombone 1994; Dan Devries, finger style guitar 2000; and Katalin Kallay, violin 2014.

As a student of music, I am committed to professional development.  In past summers I have attended conducting workshops at University of Michigan and Ball State University and the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Improvisation Camp.  

I regularly attend the Midwest International Band & Orchestra Clinic in Chicago and the state music education conference.   I have presented two clinics at IMEA state conventions: "Jazz Improvisation Strategies" with Michael Palmer in 2011 and "Guitar in the Classroom" in 2013.  I traveled to Louisville, KY in March 2014 to attend the American String Teachers Association national convention.

My professional organizations include the National Association for Music Educators, Indiana Music Educators Association, Indiana Bandmasters Association, International Trombone Association, American String Teachers Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Professional Fraternity.