ABOUT ME
I completed both Bachelors (1968) and Masters(1969) degrees at the Juilliard School in New York. Then, from 1969-1972 I pursued postgraduate studies in Europe: in Paris as a recipient of the Harriet Hale Woolley Scholarship, studying with Jacques Fevrier; in Siena, Italy at the Accademia Chigiana with Guido Agosti; and in London where I studied chamber music with cellist William Pleeth. Here is a short story about a teacher that turned my life around and influenced my teaching.
I have taken music education workshops in Dalcroze, Kodaly, Orff Schulwerk and Suzuki Piano. More recently I’ve studied the technical principles of Dorothy Taubman with Edna Golandsky, Nina Scolnik, Elizabeth Swarthout, and Marc Steiner. I also spent several years with Barbara Wilkens in Palo Alto studying a postural approach called “Balance” which greatly enhanced the work I did with the Taubman approach. In addition I have studied and worked extensively in theatre and performed annually for 25 years in "A Celebration of Robert Burns", playing the role of the Scottish poet.
Since 1972 I have taught piano, theory and chamber music in the Bay Area. I also served for eight summers as Co-Director of the Emerging Artists Program of the Mendocino Music Festival, where I taught piano and coached chamber music to talented youth. For several years I was also on the faculty of the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts in Richmond, teaching piano and chamber music. I've also given master classes for several local branches of the Music Teacher's Association of California as well as for several private teachers who have invited me to work with their students.
I’ve performed throughout the Bay Area, in the Western States and in Europe, playing solo recitals, chamber music and concertos with orchestras. In addition I have accompanied dozens of singers over the past 40 years. In the 1970’s I was a founding member of the Port Costa Players; we presented chamber music, new music, opera and children’s music-theatre shows.
I have served as President and Vice-President of the Alameda County branch of the Music Teachers Association of California and am still an active participant in the Memorial Scholarship Committee of that branch. From 2006-2011 I was Chair of the Association’s Adult Performance Program for Northern California which hosts annual events for adult students and teachers wishing to improve their skills. Many of my adult students have enjoyed taking part in this program.