What classes are you teaching this year?
I am teaching seventh and eighth grade Music Appreciation, Music Composition and Songwriting, as well as directing two sections of Orchestra.

What are your hobbies and interests?
I am a professional cellist and I enjoy performing concerts with my wife. She is also a musician and we perform as a duo.

Did you move to the area for this job?
Yes, I moved to Sedona to accept this exciting teaching position. I relocated from Portland, Oregon, and before that, I spent eight years teaching overseas in a number of different countries. I love the Southwest. I spent many summers as a kid road-tripping through this area with my family. Many of my most cherished childhood memories are of rafting, camping and sightseeing trips through Arizona, Utah and New Mexico.

What drew you to this position?
I was drawn to this position because the school has a reputation for investing in and supporting music programs; this is truly a community that values art, music and culture.

What is your professional background?
I went to school for cello performance and have performed professionally for many years. Along the way, I started teaching and conducting and found a real passion for working with young people. I also run a nonprofit called MusAid, which organizes music education workshops and cultural exchange programs around the world.

How do you feel about wearing a mask all day in the in-person structure?
Personally, I don’t find it to be an issue. It’s simply what has to be done to keep myself and the students safe and healthy.

How were you able to build a classroom community/structure with your students on the first days of online school?
We spent the first few days doing fun ice-breaking activities. Learning online is still something we’re all getting used to, so I tried to make the virtual space fun, inclusive and interactive.