What initially sparked your passion for music as a child? Where did your journey begin?
Although I don’t come from a musical family, there was always music in my household. There was The Delfonics, Earth Wind and Fire, Whitney Houston, and more Whitney Houston! I thought it was magic as a child. When I was six, my mom took me to the mall in Fort Myers, FL and there was a storefront with pianos, and that was where my formal journey began.
Did you have any particular influences or mentors during your formative years that shaped your musical interests and aspirations?
My piano teacher was a wonderful mentor, and then later on my band directors when I started playing clarinet.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your childhood or early career that solidified your desire to pursue a professional path in music?
I never thought about anything else. I went to high school at the Cypress Lake Center for the Arts - I auditioned for a visual arts and music program. I was accepted to both programs and originally started in visual arts, but some gut feeling told me to switch to music at the last minute.
Why is music important in your life? What makes you proud to express this part of yourself with the world?
Music is magic. It’s a little magic, mystery, joy, comfort, connection - it’s almost indescribable. Sometimes I see our audience members transported to another mental space during our concerts, and
it’s such a meaningful thing to
know that we made that happen.
What steps did you take after your childhood music experiences to build a career in the music industry?
Post-college, I moved to Chicago and taught piano and clarinet lessons to 40 students at Bucktown Music. I was also a recruiter for Chi Arts, worked for the North Shore Concert Band and worked at a music theater marketing company. I traveled to just about every neighborhood in Chicago and fell in love with the city.
How did you transition from being a musician to taking on the leadership role you have today? What prompted this shift for you?
In 2014, I followed my wife Molly to Miami and started working in the box office at New World Symphony. I had already been working on the administrative side of the music industry in Chicago, and now I was able to see how this incredible orchestra was run.
Before joining the Chicago Philharmonic, what were some of the key experiences or positions you held that prepared you for your current role?
I was lucky to learn and grow in a few different roles, from box office to business development manager, to business development. I brought in music festivals, including my favorite client, the American Black Film Festival, and a lot of additional events that support the mission of the symphony. New World Symphony is one of the most innovative institutions in the US, disrupting our industry, and it’s inspired my entire career since then.