I hold both bachelor's and master's degrees in music, the latter from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. I also have a certificate in Management and Supervision. I have studied several instruments/voice with private teachers, including guitar, piano, bassoon, and voice. I have taken private guitar lessons with several teachers in several genres, including classical, jazz, and others. I have taught at universities, public schools, community education programs, commercial music stores, and in private practice. I was named "Artist of the Week" by the Grand Forks Herald, nominated for a university-wide teaching award, and named one of the university "faculty stars". My performance experience is quite broad, with experience as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral soloist, wind ensemble soloist, choral soloist/accompanist, jazz soloist, jazz combo, rock/pop/blues groups, musical theater pit orchestra, and more. I've performed in New York, Philadelphia, Shanghai, Nanchang, Minneapolis, Winnipeg, and many other places in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Michigan. My training includes study with a Pulitzer-prize winning composer and a Grammy Award-winning guitarist. I work with people in a personable and professional manner and have taught over 26,000 private music lessons and 160 sections of classes.