I've been a musician since I was a kid, learning to play the violin and piano at a young age. The guitar quickly took over my attentions, and became my main instrument for over 20 years. I dabbled with the banjo, the upright bass, and then... Then I discovered the mandolin. I've been playing the mandolin since 1998, and I've dedicated a great deal of time and energy to learning its intracacies. I've played mandolin with a few bands over the last 5 years, including the Van Lizard String Band, Around The Bend, Crescent Moon, The Buckle Busters, and John Boy's Mule. I've played with these bands at the Helper Arts Festival, St. George Bluegrass Festival, Logandale Bluegrass Festival, Grand Junction Bluegrass Festival, Bannock County Bluegrass Festival, Oyster Ridge Music Festival, Holladay Arts Festival, Spring City Bluegrass Festival, the Founders Title Folk & Bluegrass Festival, the Gallivan Center Lunch Bunch, the Salt Lake Brown Bag Series, and the IAMA Local Concert Series. I also played with the 2003 and 2004 MandoFest Orchestras in Lawrence, Kansas. My most proud accomplishments include winning the 2004 Utah State Mandolin and Flatpick Guitar championships, and competing at Winfield in the mandolin contest. I was schooled, of course, in the Winfield contest. There are some amazing pickers out there. I learned several things about the mandolin, and mostly about myself during these competitions. First, I learned that music isn't always a competition and doesn't ever need to be. Music is something you feel, live, and love. Playing music is its own reward. I hope to instill that in my students. There is no need to be better than anyone else, no need to compete with yourself, even. Music is like everything else, it is meant to be enjoyed, and is best enjoyed with friends. So, having musical goals is fine, and desiring to make progress is absolutely fine. The end goal must be enjoying music, and expressing something within yourself through your music. That's what motivates me. That, and a good pizza.

Last updated on Saturday, January 7, 2006 12:16 PM