About Me
The Piano Was My First Love
I have been playing the piano every day since I was seven years old, and I do not regret one minute I spent on the keyboard.
No one had to push me to practice—I couldn't wait to get home from school and dive into the keyboard. My progress increased rapidly, and by the time I was 16, I made my debut playing Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto in C minor in La Jolla’s Sherwood Hall.
I was raised in Southern California, where I was fortunate to be a student of Dr. Grace Volkman, a student of the venerable pianist Artur Schnabel. Her no-nonsense approach to musicianship and technique made my advanced study possible.
Study & Degrees
To prepare for my Bachelor's degree at the Manhattan School of Music, I studied with Florence Stephenson, a renowned chamber music specialist at the University of Southern California, who studied with Tobias Matthay. I also studied with Robert Harvey—concert pianist and student of the legendary Rosina Lhevinne—who passed Lhevine’s methods to me. I then studied privately with Adele Marcus of the Juilliard School before completing my Master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music, where I won the Pennington International Competition, was awarded the Ceravalo Prize for excellence in the performance of J.S. Bach, and performed in the Masterclasses of John Browning and Earl Wild.
Teaching
I began teaching professionally at the age of 13. Here I am instructing Jackie, one of my first students. From the very beginning, I have been supportive of students, and dedicated to building their ability to read music, build technique, and realize the expressive qualities of music. These are the skills I gratefully received from my truly excellent teachers.
Complete Musician
As a full-time working musician, I am a piano soloist, accompanist, teacher, writer, organist, and choral conductor. My additional studies with the internationally renowned concert organist Walter Baker provided me with a mastery of the pipe organ technique and repertoire. With Thomas Schippers of the Metropolitan Opera, I studied conducting. But for all my varied musical education and experience, I have always maintained the piano as the central focus of my musical development.
In addition to my work as a pianist and teacher, I have previously been Director of Music at St. James Episcopal Church at Fordham University. An advocate for social justice, I formed the Ebony Choir in Harlem. The increasing requests from prospective students for lessons on Sundays persuaded me to relinquish choral conducting positions in favor of teaching.
I have a passion for teaching, and I draw upon over thirty years of performing and teaching experience as I focus on the development of fellow musicians seeking guidance.
My students are a diverse group, from children to adults of all ages. Some are experienced musicians seeking advice on technical issues as well as new perspectives of interpretation. Others are dedicated amateurs eager to develop their pianistic skills as a means of artistic fulfillment and personal growth.
As with so many dedicated musicians, music is far more than a profession for me: it is a branch in the art of living, a pathway for daily spiritual and intellectual growth that informs and embraces the totality of Life.
Feel free to contact me to discuss your interests in developing your relationship with music. I look forward to talking with you!
