I began piano lessons at the age of ten in
Pittsburgh, my hometown. When I was fifteen, I
began attending the Music Preparatory School at
Carnegie Mellon University, where I studied with
Professor Nelson Whittaker, and took classes in
composition and theory. I stayed on at CMU for my
undergraduate work, studying piano with Professor
Ralph Zitterbart. I graduated in 1999, with a
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Piano Performance.
Left to Right: Prof.
Zitterbart, Prof. Li, Aron Kallay, Jocelyn Chapman,
Holland Janicitis, Maryln Taft Thomas, Prof.
Whittaker
After 22 years in Pittsburgh, I decided that it was
time to move on. After a grueling audition process,
I received a full assistantship to continue my
studies at the University of Michigan. There, I
received a Master of Music in Piano Performance and
Pedagogy, working with Dr. Louis Nagel. After
narrowly surviving the frigid Ann Arbor winters, I
relocated to Washington D.C., where I built a
thriving piano studio and performed as a soloist
and chamber musician.
Me in D.C.
After four years in Washington D.C., it was time to
complete my studies. I moved to Los Angeles to
study with Daniel Pollack at the University of
Southern California. I also began composing and
working with electroacoustic media. Eventually I
grew so enamored with the electroacoustic sonic
palette that it became my compositional focus. My
compositions include works for solo instruments and
small ensembles, and often involve electronic
components. Faced with a dearth of modern ensemble
music for my students, I have also written a series
of didactic piano pieces with electronic
accompaniments. I also enjoy interdisciplinary
creative work, and, in 2008, I collaborated with
visual artist Mores McWreath on the video
installation The Bud, the Seed, the Egg, which
premiered at the Roski Gallery in Los Angeles.
At the Japanese
Garden in Los Angeles
Our Cat
Fall on the East
Coast
While at Carnegie Mellon, I also received a
certificate in Piano Pedagogy, working with
renowned pedagogue Hanna Wu Li. Professor Li
instilled in me a love of teaching, and an
understanding of the methods and preparation that
are required to be a successful music educator.
In 2009, I completed my Doctorate in Piano
Performance with concentrations in 20th and 21st
century music theory, electro-acoustic music, and
composition. In the fall of 2009, I will return to
USC, this time as an instructor in electro-acoustic
media. I currently live in Southern California with
my wonderful wife and cat.
I also served as the director of the Music Theory
Program at the Academy of Music in Gaithersburg,
Maryland. I designed and taught a music theory
course for pre-college students, as well as piano
lessons.