Hi there! I'm glad you're here. Thanks for your interest in my music and my work.
I grew up in a musical family and have lived the majority of my life in New England. Most of my adult life has been spent in Maine after earning my bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst, which nurtured my love of instrumental and choral music. Always an enthusiastic learner and voracious for new experiences, I play many instruments with a primary focus on the oboe. I love exploring new instruments and styles, and am excited to watch my own children grow and develop their own musical (and non-musical!) interests.
As a teacher
My passion for teaching didn't truly develop until college. I had chosen music education primarily because I felt compelled to pass on the experiences I'd been provided through supportive educators as a student. And, to be honest, I enjoyed that the music education track allowed me to indulge my excitement to learn more instruments and subjects. Once I started working in classrooms and rehearsal halls, however, the fire was lit. Fascinated by brain science and the cognitive processes behind learning, I took classes in Behavioral Neuroscience and International Education. Most of my post-graduate studies have revolved around exploring the processes of learning and how those processes look in the music classroom. I also have been developing a curriculum that systematically teaches students how to develop their cultural curiosity and ask questions in order to guide their cultural learning. I recently collaborated on some action research around this, which you can find on my Presentations and Research page. I currently serve as the President of the Maine chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, and will be in that role until July of 2027. In the spring of 2025 I was named the 2025 Androscoggin County Teacher of the Year (CTOY) and in October of 2025 I was named the 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year (MTOY). The CTOY and MTOY process have been highly collaborative and reflective, as we seek not only to better our own practices but, more importantly, work to highlight the good in Maine public education and find ways to support the developing needs of learners and teachers in our state. I am excited to represent Maine in the National Teacher of the Year program and look forward to meeting the 4(!) other State Teachers of the Year (STOYS) who also are music teachers!
As a performer & guest clinician
In order to provide a nourishing education for our students, I believe music educators need to be deeply involved in their own musical pursuits and performances. I have spent some time playing oboe with the Casco Bay Wind Symphony and Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra, as well as some guest appearances in various classical performances, but with the arrival of a new family this decade and meeting the demands of school, my main focus lately has been a folk band called Bold Riley. It is therapeutic to sing folk music and work on my guitar and accordion skills, and I love the sense of community we are able to form with our music. I still play oboe professionally when I get the chance, but have invested more of my time with family as of late. In addition to audience-facing performance roles, I have enjoyed serving as a guest clinician for various honors festivals and educational conferences. My work (both solo and collaborative) has been presented at events such as Maine Music Educators All State Conference, NAfME Eastern Conference, ACDA National Conference, and I am scheduled to present at the NHMEA Spring Conference.
Beyond music
Music isn't my only love. I have a joyful family - my husband, son (8), and daughter (6) -- and they keep me involved in various adventures. We love spending time outdoors in the mountains or at the lake or ocean in all seasons, and we've been known to play a round of mini golf or two. Life is good and we are grateful!
I grew up in a musical family and have lived the majority of my life in New England. Most of my adult life has been spent in Maine after earning my bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst, which nurtured my love of instrumental and choral music. Always an enthusiastic learner and voracious for new experiences, I play many instruments with a primary focus on the oboe. I love exploring new instruments and styles, and am excited to watch my own children grow and develop their own musical (and non-musical!) interests.
As a teacher
My passion for teaching didn't truly develop until college. I had chosen music education primarily because I felt compelled to pass on the experiences I'd been provided through supportive educators as a student. And, to be honest, I enjoyed that the music education track allowed me to indulge my excitement to learn more instruments and subjects. Once I started working in classrooms and rehearsal halls, however, the fire was lit. Fascinated by brain science and the cognitive processes behind learning, I took classes in Behavioral Neuroscience and International Education. Most of my post-graduate studies have revolved around exploring the processes of learning and how those processes look in the music classroom. I also have been developing a curriculum that systematically teaches students how to develop their cultural curiosity and ask questions in order to guide their cultural learning. I recently collaborated on some action research around this, which you can find on my Presentations and Research page. I currently serve as the President of the Maine chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, and will be in that role until July of 2027. In the spring of 2025 I was named the 2025 Androscoggin County Teacher of the Year (CTOY) and in October of 2025 I was named the 2026 Maine Teacher of the Year (MTOY). The CTOY and MTOY process have been highly collaborative and reflective, as we seek not only to better our own practices but, more importantly, work to highlight the good in Maine public education and find ways to support the developing needs of learners and teachers in our state. I am excited to represent Maine in the National Teacher of the Year program and look forward to meeting the 4(!) other State Teachers of the Year (STOYS) who also are music teachers!
As a performer & guest clinician
In order to provide a nourishing education for our students, I believe music educators need to be deeply involved in their own musical pursuits and performances. I have spent some time playing oboe with the Casco Bay Wind Symphony and Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra, as well as some guest appearances in various classical performances, but with the arrival of a new family this decade and meeting the demands of school, my main focus lately has been a folk band called Bold Riley. It is therapeutic to sing folk music and work on my guitar and accordion skills, and I love the sense of community we are able to form with our music. I still play oboe professionally when I get the chance, but have invested more of my time with family as of late. In addition to audience-facing performance roles, I have enjoyed serving as a guest clinician for various honors festivals and educational conferences. My work (both solo and collaborative) has been presented at events such as Maine Music Educators All State Conference, NAfME Eastern Conference, ACDA National Conference, and I am scheduled to present at the NHMEA Spring Conference.
Beyond music
Music isn't my only love. I have a joyful family - my husband, son (8), and daughter (6) -- and they keep me involved in various adventures. We love spending time outdoors in the mountains or at the lake or ocean in all seasons, and we've been known to play a round of mini golf or two. Life is good and we are grateful!