BIOGRAPHY
I'm a musician in my freshman year of college. I have played instruments my whole life. I played violin until I was five years of age, then I decided to switch to the piano. I played piano for five years and learned all the basics of music theory. I had always dreamed of playing trumpet, so when I got the chance in the fifth grade, I took it. That was the best decision I've ever made.
I have played trumpet for eight years now, and in that time I have done many things. I played lead trumpet in the award winning Sutter Middle School jazz band for 2 years, and was first chair in the orchestra at that time as well. In my time in the Sutter Middle School jazz band, we won multiple jazz festivals and Downbeat Magazine named us the best Junior High Large Jazz Ensemble in the nation. In 8th grade, I performed in the CASMEC (California All-State Music Education Conference) Junior High Jazz Band as the third trumpet, and in 10th grade I performed in the NCBA (Northern California Band Association) All-Northern Jazz Band, where I played second trumpet.
I began my freshman year at Folsom High School, and played in the award winning Folsom High School Jazz Band I under the Grammy nominated Curtis Gaesser for the next four years. This band has been awarded the 'Best High School Jazz Band' 16 of the last 18 years by Downbeat Magazine. Since my junior year, I played as the lead trumpet. I was very grateful to be surrounded by amazing musicians in my high school. During the summers, I have attended the Stanford Jazz Camp, the New York Jazz Academy Summer Intensive, and this summer I was selected as 1 of the 34 musicians from around the country to participate in the Brubeck Jazz Summit. I also played trumpet in the Premier Orchestra of the Sacramento Youth Symphony.
Now, I play split lead trumpet in the Sacramento State 1:30 Jazz Big Band and I also play lead in Curtis Gaesser's Live Performing Arts Academy Big Band, with a mix of high school to professional musicians. After using the Suzuki Method to learn violin and piano, I developed an interest in teaching trumpet. I am excited to share this amazing instrument with my students!
