About

I am a native of Western North Carolina, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in piano performance at Mars Hill College, studying with pianist May Jo Gray. Prof. Gray carried on the legacy of the renowned 19th century pedagogue Theodor Leschetizky; a little later, I won the 1981 Leschetizky Prize and performed a recital in New York as winner. I continue to honor the Leschetizky connection as a member of the Leschetizky Association.

My master’s degree work took place at the School of Music of the University of Kentucky, where I studied piano with Nathaniel Patch. Working with him deepened my already strong interest in French piano music, and, with his encouragement, I pursued an opportunity to study in France following completion of my master’s degree. I spent a year in Paris as a student of Mme. Gaby Casadesus and earned the Diplôme de concert from the Schola Cantorum, then spent part of the following summer at the Conservatoire Américain at Fontainebleau, where Mme. Casadesus was also a faculty member.

Following this year abroad, I began work toward the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Illinois School of Music, where I studied with Kenneth Drake, known especially as a scholar and performer of the music of Beethoven. During my time in Illinois I also began to work as a composer, with a particular interest in choral music. From initial performances of my earliest pieces by the superb choir Prof. Jerald Hamilton led at the Episcopal Chapel of St. John the Divine in Champaign, Illinois, I continued to write and have since composed many commissioned works, won competitions, and published over 30 pieces. While setting texts to music for choirs remains at the core of my activity as a composer, I have also written for solo voice and for a variety of instruments and small ensembles.

After spending four years on the faculty of Coker College in South Carolina, where I taught piano, class piano, music theory, and other courses, I was appointed to the faculty of Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia, where I spent a total of fourteen years. I taught piano and music theory at Hollins, and, in addition to numerous solo performances, engaged in many collaborations, including a long partnership with soprano Judith Cline, performances with the Hollins Chamber Players, and concerts with musicians from the Garth Newel Music Center. During much of my time there I served as a contract pianist and keyboard player (as well as program annotator) for the Roanoke Symphony, and performed as a soloist with that orchestra. I also continued my interest in French music, participating in several French Piano Institute summer festivals in Paris, and taking a sabbatical term to study the Debussy Preludes intensively, resulting in many concerts of the complete Preludes and a series of lecture-recitals. A French Piano Institute prize resulted in a performance at the French Embassy in Washington.

I began to be involved in academic administration at Hollins, first serving as Chair of the Faculty, and then, to meet an urgent need on the campus, as interim academic vice-president for a year. This led me to pursue the administrative roles which defined the second half of my higher education career, with appointments as Dean of Fine Arts at Eastern New Mexico University and then Dean of The Crane School of Music, part of the State University of Potsdam. I retired from that position in 2020, with the title Dean Emeritus. During my administrative work I continued to perform, primarily as a collaborative pianist, occasionally as soloist. I also became involved with the work of the National Association of Schools of Music and served on its Commission on Accreditation.

Since my retirement to central Vermont in 2020, I have continued my work as a composer, have become active in the lively musical community in Vermont, performing as a soloist and in a number of collaborations. I have also re-engaged with teaching, opening a studio for a wide range of piano students as a faculty member of Montpelier’s Monteverdi Music School.

Find a detailed academic and musical CV here