I am a musician, educator, social entrepreneur, and changemaker who believes in the power of the arts. I’ve seen firsthand how music can nurture well-being, spark personal growth, and transform strangers into a community. In all areas of my work, I use music to foster connection, champion justice, and create spaces where everyone’s story matters.
Like so many band, orchestra, and choir kids, I found belonging in music, where people work together to create something beauiful and bigger than themselves. In music school, I was introduced to El Sistema, the Venezuelan movement for “Music for Social Change.” That discovery led me to Mérida, Venezuela, where I studied the El Sistema methodology in action. I returned with a deep commitment to creating the same kind of supportive, empowering environment for my own students, rooted in access, dignity, and community. My education continued with the Global Leaders Institute for Arts Innovation, where I collaborated with arts organizations like Sistema New Brunswick (Canada) and the Society of the Four Arts (Palm Beach, FL) to develop creative, sustainable solutions to real-world challenges in the field.
In 2020, I became one of the 6 co-founders of El Sistema Indianapolis. As the founding Board Chair and later the founding Executive Director, I was responsible for guiding our team, but like any great music ensemble, our achievements were only possible because each person brought something essential to the table. Together, we grew the organization through the pandemic and beyond, from a shoestring startup to a thriving program that enriches the lives of hundreds of students. My work during my time with El Sistema Indianapolis emphasized listening to the families we served to learn about the needs of the community, providing financial stability and ethical employment practices for teaching artists, and collaborating with partners such as IPS and other schools, Indy Parks, and various arts organizations. I continue to advance these priorities today in my work with several central Indiana arts organizations as well as El Sistema USA, which provides national support and advocacy for El Sistema-inspired programs across the country.
Beyond nonprofit work, I teach private lessons and group classes on flute, and I co-founded Indy Flute Academy, which provides opportunities and programming to young flutists in central Indiana. I regularly perform as a flutist with several Indianapolis ensembles on flute as well, and when I’m not doing that, you might find me on guitar, upright bass, or ukulele at a local jam.
