EDUCATION
Doctor of Musical Arts, University of Minnesota, Composition, Vocal Performance
Secondary areas: Choral conducting, vocal pedagogy, 2008
Master of Music, Ohio State University, Choral Conducting, 2003
Master of Arts, Antioch University McGregor School of the Arts, Tübingen, Germany, 2000
Vocal and piano performance
Kunstlerichereiche Diplom (Graduate Artist Diploma) Hochschule fuer Kirchenmusik, Heidelberg, 1999
Piano performance with emphasis in lied accompanying and chamber music, secondary areas in voice, choral conducting, organ
Bachelor of Music, University of Texas at El Paso, Vocal Performance, 1991
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (no degree) Studies in trumpet, piano and vocal performance, and secondary vocal education
ADDITIONAL EDUCATION:
European American Musical Alliance L’ecole Normale de Musique, Paris, France, Summers, 2006 and 2009
University of Minnesota Roy A. Schuessler Vocal Pedagogy Certification, 2005 – 2006
Private and classroom study in Alexander Technique at the Ohio State University and the University of Minnesota
Oslo University International Summer School, summer, 2007 Foreign Language Area Studies Fellow, advanced Norwegian
Ruprecht–Karls-Universität, Heidelberg, 1994 – 1997 MA studies in musicology, philosophy, German as a second language
Active participant, 2016 European orchestral conducting classes in Berlin with the Berliner Symphoniker (Maestro Liam Shambadal) and the International Institute for Conductors with the Romanian Symphony Orchestra, Bacau, Romania (Maestros Charles Lambetta, Ovidiu Balan, Robert Gutter)
Active choral conducting master class participant in workshops with Helmut Rilling and Kathy Salzman-Romey (Minnesota Orchestra Chorus), Weston Noble, James Jordan;,Jerry McCoy, Tim Sawyer
FOREIGN LANGUAGES:
German: advanced conversation, reading, writing, diction
Norwegian: advanced diction, intermediate conversation, reading, and writing
French: advanced diction; intermediate conversation and reading
Swedish: diction and reading
Italian: diction, novice reading
Latin: intermediate reading; ecclesiastical (German and Italian) diction
HONORS AND AWARDS:
Composition:
Finalist, 2025 American Prize for Composition, Chamber Music, Opera, Choral Music, Art Song
Bio and representative works list in Choral Repertoire by Women Composers, ed. Hilary Apfelstadt and Alan Troy Davis. Chicago: GIA publications, 2025.
Honorable mention, 2021 American Prize for Composition, Opera/Film/Theater/Dance division
Washington Music Teachers National Association, 2021 Composer of the Year
Darkwaters 2020 Composition Competition, University of North Carolina, Second Place
Swedish Government Intercultural Fellowship, summer, 2019 (Visby International Centre for Composers)
Foreign Language Area Language Fellowship for study of advanced Norwegian, Summer, 2007
Ohio Music Teachers National Association 2010 Distinguished Composer of the Year
Florence Gould/Michael Iovenko Memorial Scholarship, European-American Musical Alliance, Paris, France
Finalist, American Composer’s Forum Faith Partners Commission Competition, June, 2007
American Scandinavian Institute Grant for Creative Artists, 2008
Conducting:
Semifinalist, ACDA 2007 National Graduate Conducting Competition
Hiram College 2012 Michael Star Award for Excellence in Teaching (Choral Conducting)
Vocal:
Winner, Kenwood Symphony Masters and Aria Competition, June 2007
Inge Pitler Prize for art song performance, Heidelberg, Germany, April 1999
Keyboard:
Inge Pitler Award for Lied Performance, piano, Heidelberg, Germany, 1999
U.S. Army Civilian Medal of Honor, Hanau, German for organ service playing, 1994
United States Army Fifth Corp volunteer awards for work as a pianist and choral conductor in the military community in Heidelberg
Academic awards and honors:
Gonzaga University College of Liberal Arts, 2018 Honors Convocation Speaker One of six faculty selected by students
Hiram College David and Angela Carr Award for creative scholarship, January 2018 $10,000 prize
Hiram College Michael Starr Teaching Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2012 $3000 prize awarded to one pre-tenured faculty member
Hiram College Martin Awards for excellence in teaching and scholarship October 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017. $1500 prize awarded to ten faculty members annually
Hiram College Carnegie Mellon Entrepreneurship Grant, May 2009. $5000 grant to develop a course in music entrepreneurship
Hiram College Gerstacker-Gund Awards, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. Grants to support summer scholarship and creative work
Foreign Language Area Language Fellowship for study of advanced Norwegian at the Univesity of Oslo, Oslo, Norway, Summer, 2007
Pi Kappa Lambda, Ohio State University Phi Kappa Phi, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Golden Key Honor Society, University of Texas at El Paso National Dean’s List, University of Texas at El Paso
ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS:
Pacific Lutheran University – Lecturer in Composition, January 2019 to present
Hiram College – Associate/Assistant Professor of Music – 2008 -2019
Gonzaga University – Lecturer, Music Composition and Theory, 2017 – 2018 (Filled a one-year vacancy during unpaid sabbatical from Hiram College)
University of St. Catherine, Instructor, Music Theory III and IV, Applied Voice, Choral Accompanist, University,2007-2008
University of Minnesota, Instructor, Music Theory, Vocal Pedagogy, 2005 – 2007
Ohio State University, Graduate Assistant Conductor and Accompanist, 2001-2003
CHORAL CONDUCTING, KEYBOARD, AND VOCALIST EXPERIENCE:
Hiram College, Director of Choirs, 2008 – 2019
Director of Music (organist and choir director), Westminster Presbyterian Church, Olympia, WA, August 2022 to present
Director of Music (organist and choir director) Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Federal Way, WA, August 2021 to September 2022
Organist, First Presbyterian Church, Puyallup, WA, August 2019 – August 2021
Path with Art, Seattle, teaching artist, Veteran’s Choir, spring, 2019 to October 2022
Hiram College – Conducted the auditioned Chamber Singers, open enrollment Community Choruses (SATB, SA, TB), founded and conducted the Hiram College Western Reserve Women’s Choir
Hiram College Staff Accompanist and Organist, 2013 – 2019
Leif Eriksson International Choir, September 2005 – May 2008. Performed in 2005 for Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and for the annual International Leif Eriksson festival, conducting Scandinavian choral works.
Active participant, 2016 European orchestral conducting classes in Berlin with the Berliner Symphoniker (Maestro Liam Shambadal) and the International Institute for Conductors with the Romanian Symphony Orchestra, Bacau, Romania (Maestros Charles Lambetta, Ovidiu Balan, Robert Gutter)
Active choral conducting master class participant in workshops with Helmut Rilling and Kathy Salzman-Romey (Minnesota Orchestra Chorus), Weston Noble, James Jordan; Jerry McCoy, Tim Sawyer
Oslo International Summer School International Choir Conductor, July – August 2007
Norwegian Memorial Lutheran Church (Mindekirken), August 2005 – July 2008. Organist and choral conductor. Liturgy and hymns in Norwegian; choral repertory in Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Icelandic, French, German, and English. Performed for Crown Prince of Norway.
Graduate Assistant Conductor, University of Minnesota Women’s Choir, 2006 – 2007
Graduate Assistant Conductor, Ohio State University’s Master Singers, Women’s Glee Club, Chamber Choir
Graduate Assistant accompanist, Ohio State University Choral and Vocal Departments, 2001-2003
Director of Music (organist and choir director), Zion Lutheran Church, German Village, (Columbus, Ohio), 2001 – 2003
Associate Director of Music (organist and adult and youth choir director) Church of the Messiah, Westerville, Ohio, 2000- 2001
Director of Music (organ and choir), Heidelberg Fifth Corp Military Chapel, 1993 – 2000
Associate Conductor and Accompanist, Chor des Collegium Artium (German language chamber choir), Heidelberg and Heidelberg International Choir, 1994 – 2000
Free-lance collaborative pianist, Germany, U.S. 1991 – to present
Numerous vocal recitals, U.S., Germany 1991 – 2016
Soloist, Texas Bach Choir, Kantorei Chamber Choir, Minneapolis, Exultate Chamber Choir, St. Paul, MN
Chorus Member, Florentine Opera, Opera Columbus. Numerous roles in student opera productions.
RESIDENCIES, PRESENTATIONS:
“Opera as Activism.” New Music Gathering, June 2023 Portland State University
“Opera as Oral History.” International Music Education Conference, Helsinki, Finland (August 2020; Cancelled due to COVID 19)
International Centre for Composers, Visby, Sweden, Summer, 2013, 2015, 2019 Composer-in-Residence, International Cultural Exchange Scholar, 2019
Northwest Ethnomusicology Conference, Western Washington University, January 2018 “Verlorene Heimat: Opera as Oral History”
Erie High School, Erie Colorado – Composer in Residence, October 2015
Youngstown State University Dana School of Music Composer-Performer in Residence, April 2014
Mississippi State University – Composer-Performer in Residence, March 2013
Christopher Newport University – Composer-Performer in Residence, May, 2013
Northern Virginia Community College – Composer-Performer in Residence, April 2012
University of Minnesota Vocal Pedagogy Symposium, July 2007: “Psychological Effects of Dysphonia on Trained Singers”
Leif Eriksson International Festival, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 2007: “Folk Influences in the Choral Music of Heinrik Oedegaard.
Heidelberg Stadtbibliothek (City Central Library), Lecture-recital, July 2000 Lecture-recital, July 2000: “Ohne Dich bewegt sich nichts: The Music of Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel,”
Hochschule für Kirchenmusik, Heidelberg, Germany, “Pop Music in Christian Worship: Sociological, Theological and Musicological Considerations,” March 1999
ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE:
Chair, Hiram College Music Department, 2014 – 2019
Hiram College Promotion, and Tenure Committee, 2014 – 2017, 2018 – 2019
Hiram College Task force for Performing Arts Curriculum Planning, 2018 – 2019
Hiram College Center for Literature and Medicine Steering Committee member, 2011 – 2019.
Hiram College Executive Steering Committee, 2013 – 2014.
Hiram College Academic Programing Committee, 2013 – 2017
Hiram College Assessment Committee, 2010 – 2014
Hiram College Institutional Research Committee, 2009 – 2010
Hiram College Study Abroad Committee, 2009 – 2010
Hiram College Parliamentarian, 2009 – 2010
Professional Affiliations and Service:
Founder and President, Salish Sea National Association of Composers, U.S.A., 2024 to present
Washington State Music Teachers Association Student Composition Competition Judge, 2023
Board member and recording secretary, Cascadia Composers, NACUSA, Portland, OR.
Cleveland Composers Guild – Member, 2008 – 2019, Vice Chair, 2017-2019, recording secretary 2016 – 2017, Youth Concert Chair, 2011 – 2013
Adjudicator, Youngstown State University Concerto Competition, 2015
Adjudicator, Ohio MTNA student competition, 2008 – 2010
Additional Professional Memberships
- American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP)
- American Choral Directors Association
- American Composers Forum
- American Guild of Organists
- International Alliance of Women in Music
- National Association of Teachers of Singing