The first time I picked up a guitar I was 10 years old and eager to explore new hobbies and creative avenues. In middle and high school, guitar transformed from a tool for self-expression to an inextricable part of all that I pursued. 

During that time, I participated in jazz band, concert band, marching band, orchestra, pep band, winterguard, and pit for musicals. I selected the music route of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (jazz, concert, and marching band). Later, I selected music theory through the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme as my course route. I wrote my capstone Extended Essay analyzing the evolution of jazz guitar styles from Swing to Bebop. During this time, I was developing my focus on guitar and bass, and excelled as first chair bassist and first chair guitarist in my high school jazz band.

At 15, I sought out my first job and was hired and promoted several times as a guitar and bass instructor at an afterschool center New City Kids. In teaching, I discovered the power of music as a shared experience and a profound source of catharsis. This realization deepened when I began volunteering as a guitar instructor for Guitars for Vets, which further underscored the transformative potential of music in helping individuals overcome and cope with trauma.

Just before the onset of the pandemic, I took a leap of faith and brought my original music to the stage for the first time. This performance marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter, culminating in the creation of my debut album in 2020. This album now boasts over a quarter of a million streams across platforms. Since then, I've continued to share my music through performances at Open Mics and theater cabarets, and I'm currently in the process of (loosely) working towards a second album.

While my primary instrument is guitar, I enjoy learning and exploring other instruments as well. I have professional training and have performed using guitar, bass, flute, and violin. I am predominately self taught in harmonica (some limited performance experience), banjo, percussion/drums, kalimba, and piano. I also have a thorough high school education in music theory and composition.