Schools and Teachers

Schools

Magowan Elementary School/Ridgway Middle School in Edgewater Park, NJ

This is where my career in music started. In 4th grade, we were given the opportunity to choose our own instrument. I spent a few days with my parents discussing each instrument and listened to many Vinyl records, trying to pick out the sound most appealing to me. I chose the trombone but I agreed with my parents that I should start on baritone, which made it easier to find pitches with 3 valves rather than smears with 7 positions. After a few years under the direction of Mr. George Mess, my 4th-8th grade music director, my parents bought me my first instrument which happened to be a valve trombone with the slide option. This was a great idea, since eventually I would want to switch to trombone. For 6th and 7th grade, I attended the All-South Jersey Symphonic Band but on valve trombone. This would create some controversy since the other slide trombonists were upset that I got in on a valve trombone. Rightfully so, I earned my way into the top chairs of the group and the last year, in 8th grade, I auditioned on slide trombone and got in, proving that I could do both. I spent most of my 7th grade year learning the slide trombone, in secret, with my private teacher Mr. Gene Tirpak at the Tirpak Studios.

Burlington City High School in Burlington City, NJ

BCHS was the place where I learned the most in my musical career. I followed my sister's footsteps and was offered the opportunity to join the marching band, which I started in 7th grade and continued through college as a staff member. The marching band won multiple championships in USSBA and Calvalcade of Bands while I was in the program. I was privaledged to audition for the high school jazz band in 8th grade and won the 2nd trombone spot. Later that year, the HS jazz band made the New Jersey State Finals and placed 8th overall. It was an amazing experience and kept my interest in the jazz program. My band director, Mr. David Thomas May, would give me multiple opportunities to shine and share my talent. He would give me the chance to perform solos with the marching band, jazz band, and the soloist cabaret. The soloist cabaret was a benefit concert that raised money for the program but also gave students an opportunity to share their talent or share a new aspect of music that they have learned. Under the guidance of Mr. May, Mr. Joe Mekler and Ms. Amy Troxel, I would win multiple soloist awards at jazz competitions, make the All-South Jersey Bands (Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Orchestra) all 4 years, make the NJ All-State Bands (Symphonic Band, Orchestra) for 2 years, win auditions for the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, and make it into the All-South Jersey Choir my senior year. My favorite and most memorable experience in high school, was when Mr. May gave me an opportunity to teach and conduct a composition that I wrote during the Spring Concert my senior year. Ms. Troxel helped me with the theory aspect of writing music for 4 years and Mr. Mekler shared his vast knowledge of percussion and how to go about writing for the various instruments. Mr. May surprised me that night of the concert, and presented me with my first baton. I will never forget days like that, especially when all of my peers were fully supportive and anxious to perform the piece. This piece would later be performed by the Golden Eagle Band, in addition to offering me a music scholarship.

Tirpak Music Studios in Edgewater Park, NJ

Mr. Gene Tirpak and Mrs. Barbara Tirpak accepted me into their musical family my 5th grade year. Their studio was their home, converted into a music community with hundreds of students walking through their front door every day. They offered lessons on almost every instrument, and if they could not teach the student or if they felt they were ready for advanced instruction, they would point them in the direction of other instructors either at the studio or outside of the town. The studio would hold an end of the school year concert showcasing the talent of their students and the improvements they made. I am forever grateful for the opportunities the Tirpaks have shown me and the encouragement they gave me to pursue my dreams and make music a career come true.

Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ

Rowan University is where I met some of the finest professors in the country. Rowan has been privileged to have great performers from the Philadelphia Orchestra to teach music in Wilson Hall, the music department facility. One of my professors, Tyrone Breuninger, was associate principal trombone of the Philadelphia Orchestra and guest soloist on the Euphonium. I had the privilege of knowing him and studying under him for 5 years. The first 4 years were during school and the last, 5th year, was after graduation in preparation to audition for a Masters. Unfortunately, the great musician and friend passed away in 2012. I am proud to know that I was one of his last students and I only wish that I can pass on the knowledge and passion that he brought to his students every day. There are many other great professors at Rowan University but the ones who helped me the most included Salvatore Scarpa, Dr. Bryan Appleby-Wineberg, Richard (Rick) Linn, Dr. Rick Dammers, John Pastin, and Denis DiBlasio. During my time at Rowan University I was a Concerto Soloist winner in 2009 and I performed with many ensembles including the orchestra, wind ensemble, symphonic band, jazz band, lab band, brass ensemble, trombone ensemble, brass quintet, contemporary ensemble, and the faculty brass ensemble. I graduated in 2010 with cum laude honors and a Bachelors in Music Education (Instrumental), Bachelors in Music Performance (Trombone), and a BA in Education: Subject Matter Teaching.

New York University (Steinhardt) in Manhattan, NY

NYU offered many opportunities but I focused my efforts on trombone performance for my Masters degree. My acceptance to NYU was a shock and I was immediately supported by my future adviser and trombone instructor, Dr. Sean Scot Reed. Dr. Reed helped me in many ways my first year at NYU. He prepared me for the real world of auditions for a future career in trombone performance. He also guided me to a smooth and successful first year as my adviser, giving me all the knowledge to complete my degree in 2 years. NYU offers many ensembles but I only participated in ensembles that I thought necessary to build my classical training on trombone. I performed with the NYU symphony orchestra, brass choir, trombone quartet, brass quintet, and most of the musical productions. After my first year, Dr. Reed was offered a great opportunity to teach at another university and left the program. I was then given the opportunity to study with Thomas Hutchinson, a great trombone performer, for my last year at NYU. He took me in as his student and prepared me for DMA auditions and gave me insight to the things that I needed to acquire in order to be among the best trombone players. I was accepted to Arizona State University, Colorado University (Boulder), Minnesota University (Twin Cities), University of Southern California, and Michigan State University. I accepted a full scholarship and Teaching Assistantship to Michigan State University (East Lansing) with professor Ava Ordman. I could not have accomplished this without the teachings and preparation of Thomas Hutchinson and Dr. Sean Reed.

Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI

So far, my experience at MSU has been nothing less than exemplary. I am forever grateful that Professor Ava Ordman accepted me as her trombone Teaching Assistant for a 3-year term. I continue to learn a great deal of trombone knowledge and professional wisdom from Professor Ordman. She has many years of experience as a professor and as a professional trombonist and has been more than willing to share her tips and tricks of the trade. She has provided many opportunities to grow as a musician and gain professional performance experience as a trombone performer. During my TA term I have performed with the MSU symphony orchestra, trombone choir, Red Cedar Brass Quintet (Graduate Quintet), wind ensemble and most of the other musical productions and performances including opera, the Musique 21 group, and many student recitals. Additionally, I co-founded The Spartan Hoplite Quarter, which was originally created to perform on one of my DMA recitals. The quartet played so well together that we decided to stay together and continue performing in hopes of entering in a few competitions. We were invited to perform the Detroit Symphony Orchestra pre-concert series on December 4, 2014. During this time, we submitted a few recordings to enter into the International Trombone Festival for the trombone quartet finals. We were accepted as trombone quartet finalists for the 2015 ITF in Valencia, Spain. I was fortunate to be a part of the Red Cedar Brass Quintet when Professor Rich Illman entered our group to perform and be a part of Exploring Brass in Greece. Most of my professors passed my name along to other groups and leaders seeking a trombone performer. I tried my best to obtain every opportunity that was offered. I performed with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra (2nd trombone for three seasons and occasionally principal), Alma Symphony Orchestra, Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra (2nd trombone for two seasons and occasionally prinicipal) and with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra. I was awarded as the Runner-Up for the Honors Concerto Competition, performing Frank Martin's Ballade in 2013 and I performed the Solo Trombone II part in Rosa Parks Boulevard with Professor Ordman and the MSU Wind Ensemble in 2015. I am fortunate to have studied with so many talented professors at MSU. My experiences taking lessons with Professor Philip Sinder on Euphonium have provided a larger understanding of the low brass instruments. Other influencial instructors/professors include Corbin Wagner, Rich Illman, Dr. Ricardo Lorenz, Dr. Kenneth Prouty, Dr. Kevin Noe, Dr. Kevin Sedatole, Dr. David Rayl and Patrick Johnson. Additional opportunities during my time at MSU included coaching the trombone section in the Spartan Youth Wind Symphony and teaching a trombone master class for the 21st Annual Red Cedar Festival of Community Bands. Also, I was appointed as Trombone Instructor for the MSU Secondary or Special Emphasis in Brass class for the summer semester in 2016. I am currently finishing my lecture-recital and dissertation to round out a long, yet fruitful career at MSU. I look forward to my next teaching or performing experience.