I was born in Albany, New York, 1978… My family moved to Belchertown from Malta NY when I was 3 so my dad could accept a job at the “new” Sears store in the Holyoke Mall.  My memories of growing up and living on Sherwood Dr during my youth are among my favorite memories of home.  

 

I first fell in love with music while spending time at my friend's house up the street.  They had a piano in their living room and every time I spent time in their house I wanted to be near it.  They would even let me sit by myself in the room and explore on my own.  This led to lessons by 3rd grade and band in 5th grade… I so badly wanted to wear the black and orange marching uniform I saw at the parade every September and remember the BHS band inspiring me from a very young age.  Almost immediately after beginning playing trumpet at CHCS, music had become part of my DNA and a huge part of my growing confidence. 

 

I attended Belchertown Public Schools from Kindergarten through 12th grade and graduated as a member of the class of 1996.  I attended Cold Spring and Center School… Brian Cameron's office was my 3rd grade classroom…  I was able to see the creation of CHCS, Swift River and Belchertown High School and I took part in our music program all the way through my time at BPS.  

 

It wasn’t until my 2nd year at Holyoke Community College that I finally heard the calling to teach.  I enrolled in music classes at HCC which led me to being accepted at the University of Southern Maine School of Music in Portland Maine.  Upon graduating in 2002, I accepted my first job in the Athol Royalston School district.  I was a band, choir and general music teacher.  I moved into a position with Westfield Public Schools in 2003 and spent 13 years building choirs and teaching general music to K-5 students across several elementary schools.  

 

At that time, I had cultivated a big thriving program and had a simple rule, “I’ll never leave unless something in Belchertown became possible”... In 2016, I learned the position at SRE had opened up and I applied.  It was difficult to leave what I had created in Westfield, but I knew my calling was to come home and teach Belchertown kids… 

 

I am now finishing my 10th year in Belchertown… We have been able to lead community projects that have reshaped music in town… in 2018 we replenished our working Piano’s district wide in a partnership with Westfield State University.  We also have been able to build a state of the art piano lab funded by donations at SRE ensuring every student learns piano in grades 1-3.  These initiatives led to the most exciting moment in my career, when I was named a national finalist for the 2020 Music Educator award presented by the Grammy Awards…. An exciting moment for sure… Though throughout my life and career, I am most proud of helping build a better Belchertown and being an Oriole.