I joined Local 802 when I became a member of the Patriot Brass Ensemble. It quickly became apparent that being a part of the union is a must for those who are taking a direct path to a professional career in the music industry. I wish I had joined sooner. My musical goal in New York is to build a career as a composer in media, TV and film. I recently composed and produced the music to an extended-length New Balance Team commercial that has led me in a new career direction I didn’t otherwise anticipate! I come from a musical family. My dad is a high school band director in the St. Louis area, and my mother is a classical pianist and editor for Hal Leonard Publishing Company. They are the ones who truly nurtured me in my early stages. I’ve been a gigging trumpet player and pianist since finishing school at University of Northern Colorado (M.M. in jazz studies) and University of Kansas (B.Mus. in trumpet performance). I most recently acquired my online certification in composing for film and videogames from Berklee School of Music. Music, and specifically composing, gives me the opportunity to home in on a specific project where I can fully immerse myself in a creative state. The process of constructing an experience for people to digest and be moved by is simply my lifeblood. I have performed in a variety of ensembles since moving in 2012 including: Big Mean Sound Machine, Mid Atlantic Title, Big Figment, Jesus on the Mainline, and Patriot Brass. I’m a member of the Society of Composers and Lyricists and Game Audio Network.