So, I found a special moment this evening when the three children were playing happily (and mostly separately), and I could squeeze in an extra 45 minutes of blissful uninterrupted practice. It’s rare, but I took it with gusto! I played the heart and soul out of the Franck Sonata and Ian Clarke’s Great Train Race. I played like no one was watching but that I had something to prove, something to really say. It was amazing! I was performing for no one but me, and that’s all I cared about at that moment. Every time I walk on stage, I will have this memory with me and perform, really perform, if for no one else but for myself. (Though, I know my audience will enjoy it, too.) My advice today to busy musician mommies is find 45 minutes or even 30 to perform for yourself and love, really love, what you are doing. Life with music is so good!
I have been active as a freelance performer since 1992 and as a teacher since 1996. I currently serve as Second Flute with the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic orchestra and have performed with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Chamber Winds, Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra, Danville (Illinois) Symphony Orchestra, Bloomington Symphony Orchestra, Bloomington Chamber Singers Orchestra, and the United States Collegiate Wind Band’s European Tour, among other ensembles. I have also enjoyed performing for various occasions such as formal and charitable recitals as well as giving master classes at Butler University in Indianapolis and at Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky. I am also Adjunct Professor of Flute at Indiana Wesleyan University.
I earned a Master of Music in Performance with Distinction at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England studying with Peter Lloyd and Laura Jellicoe. While in England, I played in charitable concerts for St. Augustine’s Catholic Church. I was featured as a soloist at the Pennine Spring Music Festival in Heptonstall, England in addition to performing in the music festival’s orchestral and solo events.
I earned a Bachelor of Science in Performance with Distinction at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where I studied principally with Kathryn Lukas. While at Indiana University, I also had the incredible opportunity to study for several weeks with Barbara Kallaur on baroque flute, Donald Peck, Thomas Robertello, and Kate Hill.
I am lucky to be the mother of three beautiful and talented children, and I play on a wonderful David Straubinger 10K gold flute with 14K head joint.
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Mommy's Gotta Practice! 