Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Major(s): Double major in music with a dual emphasis in cello performance & composition, Honors Liberal Arts.
Campus Activities: SPU Orchestra and other small ensembles.
Who was your most impactful professor? I have a few. My immediate answer is my composition professor, Dr. Sarah Bassingthwaighte. I have met with her every week of my college career and consistently look forward to our time together. She has helped me pull off massive projects during my time at SPU, including many premieres and a few awards. To these things I owe her my thanks and gratitude. I could not have done them without her. Another professor that comes to mind is Dr. Krosschell, who has both helped me take my musician mindset to a new level while also being a friend outside the classroom. Finally, our beloved cello instructor, Mara Finkelstien. She has pushed me into new territory with my instrument and has made me better with every session we’ve shared. I feel incredibly lucky to have been surrounded by these people and will miss seeing them on a regular basis post-graduation.
What are you excited for in your career? I am excited about a few things. I look forward to continuing to hone my compositional skills with composer Hummie Mann and the Pacific Northwest Film Scoring Program in September 2026. After that, I am excited to take my skills and career to the scoring stages of Hollywood, hopefully delivering memorable scores that stick with people long after I’m gone. With my cello degree, I look forward to playing in new and old groups, discovering new music, and, most of all, playing with my wife and fellow cellist in our duo, Cellobration.
What advice do you have for incoming students? If there were any advice to give, it would be to remember that you’re part of a community of people with similar goals. Don’t be afraid of new people. Instead, be the first to ask a question. You may end up just seeing them around, or maybe you will have gained a new friend. The people you’re surrounded by will be the people you’re in careers with after college, so it doesn’t hurt to get to know them! College is great for that.