It all started with the Little Tikes Tap a Tune toy xylophone.

As a toddler, I loved to play, build, collect and explore how things worked. My happiest place was sitting and tinkering with objects that I found. One day at a family gathering, I came across the adorable yellow musical toy you see to your left. I started by hitting the rainbow colored metal keys at random. Then - eureka! - a happy accident had occured; it was a melody! It wasn't just any melody, it was the classical standard ‘Ode to Joy’. The song had likely become nestled in my subconscious within the first few years of life, then came to an external manifestation in that very moment - around age four. I "joyfully" ran up to my parents to show them what I had learned, and they were amazed, but not surprised.

As I was later told, I taught myself to do all sorts of things as a toddler. From out of what seemed to be thin air, I learned a variety of random skills. Pogo sticking, juggling, yo-yo-ing, magic tricks, playing the guitar & piano, rock & tree climbing, origami, cartoon drawing, dancing, roller skating - I wanted to learn all the shapes and colors of being human. Regardless of what I was pursuing, I experimented over and over and over again - until magic happened. That persistence was my strength as a child, and as I'm now realizing, this will be my continued strength in adulthood.

Life has gotten in the way many times over the years, and there have been many times I’ve considered giving up on my dream of being a musical artist completely. High school was dominated by my passion for sports, college was (unsurprisingly) a time when I lacked the necessary financial means, and adulthood brought with it an (unintended) preoccupation with working and earning for a living.

I realize though that everything happens for a reason, and if it was meant to be, it will certainly be. It was likely that I had to wait until my 30s to make music because the universe determined that this was the right time. Well, here we are - that time is now. I’m so happy to be exploring my true passion once more, and this time it is 100% for real. Although it is a bit of a lofty goal, I want to be the next Mozart - someone whose purpose is making art through musical tapestries of their mind’s creation.

At some point in life, most people look for purpose. Although it took a while, I am happy to say I have finally, without question, understood what I was born to do.

I am an artist and I was born to create magic through music.

I hope you enjoy my collection of musical tapestries on the next page! :)