Education
California Institute of the Arts, M.F.A. in Jazz Studies, 2025
Bay Area Teacher Training Institute - University of the Pacific, M.A. in Teaching and Curriculum, 2019
Dartmouth College, B.A. in Music, magna cum laude, 2011
Teaching
California Institute of the Arts, Santa Clarita, CA
Winter Session Course: “I’ve Got You Covered - The Art of Making Someone Else’s Music Your Own,” 2025
Teaching Assistant: Musicianship Skills 101 and 102, Jazz Student Ensemble, 2023 - 2024
High Tech Middle School, Sherman Oaks, CA Jazz Band Director, 2024 - Present
Little School of Music, Valencia, CA Voice, Saxophone, and Piano Instructor, 2024 - Present
Interplay Jazz Workshop, Hartland, VT Ensemble Leader and Saxophone Faculty, 2024 - Present
Mt. Tamalpais School, Mill Valley, CA Music and Performing Arts, 4th-6th Math, 2nd ELA, 2021 - 2023
Galileo Learning, Oakland, CA Founding Camp Director, 2016 - 2022
Envision Academy of Arts and Tech, Oakland, CA 6th-8th Math and STEM, 2020 - 2021
The Hamlin School, San Francisco, CA 4th Math and ELA, 2017 - 2019
San Jose Jazz Progressions, San Jose, CA 4th - 6th Band, 2nd-3rd General Music, 2015 - 2017
SF Maritime/Downtown High, San Francisco, CA High School Boat Building and Science, 2013 - 2017
Interplay Jazz Workshop, Hartland, VT Vocal Faculty, 2012 - 2014
Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH Teaching Assistant: Jazz History, Music Theory, 2010 - 2011
Sound Installation Projects
Climate Futures in Sound (in collaboration with The World Resources Institute and Climate Interactive), Creator and Composer (currently in production), 2024 - Present
Television and Film
NBC’s “Sing-Off Holiday Special,” Los Angeles, CA Vocal Performer, 2011
NBC TV Series “The Sing-Off,” Los Angeles, CA Contestant/Performer (2nd Place Finalist), Arranger, 2011
Selected Recordings
CalArts 33rd Annual Jazz CD, Evergreen Studios Composer and Performer (Tenor Saxophone), 2025
Cyranø Soundtrack, Cinema Therapy Studios Performer (Alto and Tenor Saxophones), 2025
Jazz $2.00, Independent Release Personal Space Man (Composer, Saxophonist, Vocalist), 2023
Live at Rickshaw Stop, Independent Release Personal Space Man (Composer, Saxophonist, Vocalist), 2023
Truth or Daire, Independent Release The Dartmouth Aires (Arranger, Vocalist), 2014
Fresh Aire, Independent Release The Dartmouth Aires (Musical Director, Vocalist), 2011
The Sing-Off: Songs of the Season, Sony Music The Dartmouth Aires (Arranger, Vocalist), 2011
The Sing-Off: Season 3, Episodes 1-11, Sony Music The Dartmouth Aires (Vocalist), 2011
Extraordinaire, Independent Release The Dartmouth Aires (Vocalist), 2009
Selected Performances
The Wild Beast, Santa Clarita, CA World Music Festival (perf. with Joey DeLeon’s Salsa Band), 2024
Roy. O Disney Hall, Santa Clarita, CA AT Group (Leader, Saxophonist, Vocalist), 2024
The Wild Beast, Santa Clarita, CA World Music Festival (perf. with Aashish Khan’s ensemble), 2024
The Mint, Los Angeles, CA Alex Taylor Quartet (Saxophonist, Vocalist), 2024
The Troubadour, West Hollywood, CA Savannah Rivers Band (Saxophonist), 2024
Kimball Union Academy, Plainfield, NH Interplay Jazz Showcase (perf. with Justin Varnes), 2024
Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco, CA Personal Space Man (Composer, Saxophonist, Vocalist), 2022
Crowden Music Center, Berkeley, CA Pacific Edge Voices (Featured Soloist), 2017
The Green Room at SF War Memorial San Francisco, CA Pacific Edge Voices (Tenor Vocalist), 2016
Agannis Arena, Boston, MA The Dartmouth Aires (perf. with Ben Folds and Pentatonix), 2012
The White House, Washington, D.C. The Dartmouth Aires (perf. for Barack and Michelle Obama), 2011
The Cutler Majestic Theater, Boston, MA The Dartmouth Aires (Musical Director), 2010
Fenway Park, Boston, MA The Dartmouth Aires (Vocalist), 2008
Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY NYSSMA All-State Symphonic Band (Alto Saxophone I), 2006
Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre, Rochester, NY NYSSMA All-State Mixed Chorus (Tenor II), 2005
Mentorship and Study
Saxophone:
Steve Lehman, Santa Clarita, CA, 2024 - present
Tim Shaghoian, Santa Clarita, CA, 2025 - present
Daniel Rotem, Santa Clarita, CA, 2023 - present Paul Novros, Santa Clarita, CA 2023
Tony Peebles, Oakland, CA, 2019 - 2023
Michael Zsoldos, Woodstock, VT, 2012 - 2015
Fred Haas, Hanover, NH, 2007 - 2011
Bob Notari, Glens Falls, NY, 2002 - 2006
Voice:
Meltem Ege, Santa Clarita, CA, 2023 - present
Micaela Tobin, Santa Clarita, CA, 2024
Pam Granger, Glens Falls, NY, 2003 - 2007
Nancy Armstrong, Glens Falls, NY, 2001 - 2003
Improvisation:
Larry Koonse, Santa Clarita, CA, 2024 - present
Darek Oles, Santa Clarita, CA, 2024
Vardan Ovsepian, Santa Clarita, CA, 2023 - present
Composition:
Vardan Ovsepian, Santa Clarita, CA, 2024 - present
David Roitstein, Santa Clarita, CA, 2023 - present
Musical Directing and Theatrical Productions
Grease, Mount Tamalpais School, Mill Valley, CA Musical Director, 2023
Oliver, Mount Tamalpais School, Mill Valley, CA Musical Director, 2022
Guys and Dolls, Mount Tamalpais School, Mill Valley, CA Musical Director, 2022
Bat Boy, The Saint Paul’s School, Concord, NH Musical Director and Artist-in-Residence, 2013
Child of the World, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH Composer and Musical Director, 2013
FourPlay, Independent Production, Glens Falls, NY Arranger and Musical Director, 2012
Grease, Warrensburg High School, Warrensburg, NY Pit Orchestra (Tenor Sax), 2012
City of Angels, GF Community Theatre, Glens Falls, NY Angel City Four (Tenor Voice), 2006
One 70th Sensation, GF Community Theatre, Glens Falls, NY Tenor Soloist, 2005
The Sound of Music, ACT, Glens Falls, NY Kurt, 2003
Selected Grants and Awards
CalArts, Santa Clarita, CA Herb Alpert School of Music Project Grant, 2023 & 2025
Dartmouth College, Hanover NH Year of the Arts Grant Recipient, 2013
The Post-Star, Glens Falls, NY Best of the Region Jazz Band - Alex Taylor Trio, 2013
Dartmouth College, Hanover NH Casque and Gauntlet Senior Society Selectee, 2010
Dartmouth College, Hanover NH Ranny B. Cardozo, Jr. Award Nominee, 2010
Dartmouth College, Hanover NH Rick Angulo World Experience Award, 2009
Glens Falls High School, Glens Falls, NY Valedictorian, 2007
New York All-State Symphonic Band, NY Alto Saxophone I, 2006
New York All-State Mixed Chorus, NY Tenor II Vocalist, 2005
Other Experience
NatureBridge, Sausalito, CA Education Manager, 2019 - 2020
SF Maritime, San Francisco, CA Program Manager, Senior Instructor, 2013 - 2017
SUNY Adirondack Upward Bound, Glens Falls, NY Residential Program Manager, 2015
Galileo Learning Summer Camps, Oakland, CA Music Production, Outdoor Team Building, 2013 - 2015
YMCA Camp Chingachgook, Lake George, NY Outdoor Educator, 2012 - 2013
Glens Falls Music Academy, Glens Falls, NY Studio Manager, 2012 - 2013
Moosilauke Ravine Lodge, Warren, NH Rustic Hospitality and Kitchen Crew, 2012 - 2013
The Dartmouth Aires, Hanover, NH Musical Director, Arranger, Vocalist, 2007 - 2011
Dartmouth Men’s Ultimate Frisbee, Hanover, NH President, 2010 - 2011
Dartmouth First-Year Trips, Hanover, NH Safety and Logistics Director (Vox Crew), 2010
The Roots of Music, New Orleans, LA Academic Mentor and Music Instructor, 2009
Summer Enrichment at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH Academic Coach, 2009
Masterclasses and Coursework
Relevant College Coursework:
CalArts: Jazz Composition, Harmonic Improvisation, Jazz Arranging, Transcription Skills, Jazz and Urban Experimentalism, Advanced African Ensemble, African Song, Ethnology of African Music, College Pedagogy, Teaching Artistry, Teaching the Voice, Recording the Voice, Singing the Standards, Tala Systems, North Indian Improvisation, Project Recording, Creating Ecolibrium
University of the Pacific: Transformational Teaching and Learning, Teaching English Language Learners, Teaching Exceptional Learners, Teaching and Assessment, Technology-Enhanced Learning Environment
Dartmouth College: Spanish Language Immersion Semester in Puebla, MX, Harmony and Theory I and II, Jazz Improvisation, Counterpoint, Conducting, Jazz Keyboard, Timbre and Form, Acoustics, History of Jazz, Adolescent Development, Educational Issues in Contemporary Society, Learning and Education Across Cultures
Masterclasses and Workshops:
CalArts: Gretchen Parlato, Ravi Coltrane, Elena Pinderhughes, Ben Wendel, Bob Reynolds, Joel Frahm, Dominique Eade, Terrace Martin, Todd Sickafoose, Flying Lotus, Dan Weiss and Miles Okazaki, Yosvanny Terry Quartet, Joshua Davis, Vinicius Gomes, Andrew Renfroe, Taking Your Music on the Road (John Storie), Making Music in Odd Meters (Miroslav Tadic), Alexander Technique (Abigail Whitman)
SFJazz Center: Live Looping and Spontaneous Composition (Daniel Berkman), Intro to LogicPro (Daniel Berkman), Mixing Concepts (Heidi Trefethen)
California Jazz Conservatory: Rhythmic Freedom and Flow for Improvisation (Tony Peebles), Jazz Bass Lines (Rob Ewing), the Backdoor ii-V Progression (Anton Schwartz), John Coltrane Ensemble (Howard Wiley)
Berklee Online: Songwriting (Pat Pattison), Jazz Improvisation (Gary Burton), Music Production Technology, Musicianship III - IV
Interplay Jazz Workshop: Sheila Jordan, Karrin Allyson, John Proulx, Dominique Eade, Gene Bertoncini, Jason Ennis
Skills
Certifications & Trainings: California Multiple Subject Teaching Clear Credential with CLAD Certificate, PBLWorks PBL 101, Restorative Practices, Introduction to Responsive Classroom, IFSEL Institute, ToolBox, Teachers 4 Social Justice Conference, Wilderness First Responder, First Aid & CPR, JEN Conference
Mediums & Technical Skills: Vocal, instrumental jazz, and orchestral musical directing, conducting, and arranging. Extensive performance experience on alto, soprano, and tenor saxophones, Tenor II voice, in jazz, classical, and contemporary genres. Intermediate guitar, ukulele, clarinet, flute, and piano. Experienced in cooking 5-course meals for over 100 people.
Programs and Platforms: Skilled in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, Finale, Sibelius, Logic, Ableton, ProTools, GarageBand, SoundTrap, Audacity, SoundCloud, Instagram, LinkedIn.
Languages: Native fluency in English. Limited working proficiency in Spanish.