My Journey

Some families bond over playing board games, going on bike rides, or having movie nights. My family came together through listening to music day in and day out. Our home environment was filled with music; from Basie to Brubeck, Dorsey to Armstrong, Miller to Ellington, the Great American Songbook, and even a few opera arias. These melodic sounds shaped my growth, molding me into the musician I am today. I was exposed to all genres of music, but it wasn’t until the age of 15 that I was introduced to the piano. Thanks to them, music has been a significant force in my life.

My mother played the piano as a child. After moving to New Jersey from New York, my dad bought a piano with the hopes that she would return to the instrument. My mom taught me the C Major scale, hands separately, and for a month I played that scale and taught myself how to play with my hands together. Coming across a random ad in the local newspaper, my dad signed me up for piano lessons. I went from playing basic piano books to Classical Sonatas in a very short period of time. Yes, that sounds impressive, but I wasn’t able to read the music. I played by ear and mimicked the hand positions and fingerings of my teacher. After a year of taking piano lessons, my parents and I realized that the teacher was not as qualified as we had thought. We were recommended to meet an accomplished pianist and renown teacher named Galina Gryserman.

Gallina introduced me to Brian Gilmore, a music Professor at Ocean County College, opening my world to the performance pianist. Under his tutelage, I was introduced to music theory, technique, and the discipline of commitment that is required to become a pianist. I studied under Brian for 3 years, and in that time span his passion for teaching made me reach heights I had only imagined. I went on to college at Rowan University, where I received my Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Piano Performance.

Through my years at Rowan University, I studied under the brilliant teachings of Veda Zuponcic. It was a challenge, as my peers were proficient pianists from the age of 5, and so I had to keep up. I practiced 5-6 hours a day, and with that hard work and determination, I graduated in 2020 with my Master’s Degree. With my years of studying music, I am now capable and ready to share my knowledge of music and the piano with those who will embark on a journey that will enrich their lives!

For piano lessons or performance opportunities, feel free to contact me