I grew up in the suburbs south of Chicago watching old movie musicals and falling in love with the voices of Shirley Jones, Kathleen Grayson, Ann Sheridan, and so many other stars of the silver screen. I wanted so badly to be able to make the audience swoon as those ladies did. At age 10, I began taking voice lessons with an amazingly patient teacher who instilled in me the unequaled value of healthy singing.
      Seven years later my vocal journey continued to Oklahoma City University, where I pursued my degree in Vocal Performance. I learned lessons from my teachers, but also from my peers, each other’s success educating us and driving us to strive harder. On my summer breaks, I would work in theater summer stock, getting to share the stage and learn from some of the industries upcoming stars and legendary performers. One summer, I met one of the greatest teachers of my life. Jack Dabdoub, veteran of more than 19 Broadway shows, taught me then and continues to advise me on singing, acting, and the art of show business. Those summers prepared me for my career to come.
      After graduation, I headed to New York. I was quickly cast in the national tour of Hello, Dolly! Nine months after closing that tour, I headed out to the national tour of Les Misérables. Truly my dream job! For the next three and a half years, I traveled the world performing with the “World’s Favorite Musical.” It took me to Shanghai, China for the national premiere starring the original Val Jean and Tony award winner, Colm Wilkinson! It even brought me to Madison’s own Ovation Center. Playing the role of Cosette in that show was another education. I learned how to set my healthy technique to work and maintain eight rigorous shows a week.
        Back in New York after my years of touring, I continued to study voice with the amazing vocal technician, Marianne Challis. It was she who encouraged me to begin teaching. Under her guidance, I began to teach the healthy technique I had been learning and implementing all those years. While teaching and studying, I continued to perform in shows and even taped a national commercial! But I was discovering a new love in teaching.
        In 2006 I left New York for Las Vegas to be a part of a new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian Hotel. Working with 23 time Tony award winner Hal Prince and legendary choreographer Gillian Lynne was a crazy learning experience. It isn’t often that we get to learn from such masters of their craft. While in Las Vegas, I continued to teach, taking on students and helping them find their own voice and performance opportunities.
       After successfully teaching students and adults in New York and Las Vegas, I moved to Madison so my husband (also a Broadway veteran) could attend the Veterinary School at the University of Wisconsin. During our four years there, I built a studio of wonderful people and added two members to our family, our boys Silas and Gideon. With my husband, Andrew’s, graduation, we headed Louisville, KY, where we have set down roots!
       Here in Louisville, I have deepened my love of teaching singers a healthy, lasting vocal technique.  I have had the honor of helping students prepare for college auditions: guiding their song choices, providing opportunities to work with top quality musicians and coaches for pre-screen auditions, and facilitating those tapings.  I have had the pleasure of working with singers from the Louisville Voice Care Clinic in helping relearn how to sing after vocal trauma.  Currently, I am teaching at the collegiate level at Boyce College.  
        I am looking forward to passing on the lessons that I have been so fortunate to learn and pass on a love of healthy singing.