My musical experience began in second grade in 1978 when I began taking piano lessons.  Two years later, I started playing tuba, and then in the eighth grade, trombone.  In my first year of high school, I become the only freshman in the 11th and 12th grade wind ensemble because they needed a tuba player.  I performed with the wind ensemble all four years of high school, as well as the marching band, where I had the opportunity to play in the Cotton Bowl Parade in Dallas in 1989.  I also played trombone in the high school jazz band. I received my Bachelor of Arts degree at Syracuse University in 1993, where I was a member of the marching band, symphonic band, wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, symphony orchestra, and tuba ensemble.  I received my Master of Science in Music Education from Queens College-CUNY in 1996.  I have played in several performing groups such as the C.W. Post Orchestra, the Nassau Pops Symphony Orchestra, and currently with the Band of Long Island.

My teaching experience began in 1994 with Paul Effman Music Service, which provides Catholic schools with band lessons, as well as with general music classes.  My experience is in conducting band programs and playing piano for entire classrooms to sing along to in two performances held during the school year in six different schools.  I held this position from 1994 to 2000 and 2003 to 2012.  From 2001 to 2003 I was a general music teacher at Mulligan Elementary School In the Central Islip School District.

I started giving private lessons in 1997 not only on tuba and trombone, but also on flute, clarinet, trumpet, and saxophone.  Many of my students went on to perform in the NYSSMA festival.  Every student that has participated has performed either excellent or outstanding from Levels 1 through 4 and a grade of 90 or higher on Levels 5 and 6.