I first started to study music in grade school, where I was introduced to the trumpet.  In high school and through college, I studied classical trumpet and theory privately for three years with Charles Daval, three years with Eddie Haug (both of whom were formerly with the San Francisco symphony) and in 2010 with Mic Gillette, former lead trumpet with Tower of Power.  I have received many awards for solo competitions.  In 1975 and 1976, I participated in a nation wide audition and was accepted for the America Youth in Concert, which was sponsored by the Universal Academy for Music, Princeton, New Jersey.  Along with the many local and state honor bands, I was also presented the award of “Outstanding Musician” at the University of the Pacific (Stockton) music camp 1976.  I earned an associate arts degree with honors at Cabrillo College.
 I have been playing professionally for the last 36 years. I did have to put my instrument down for about 15 years due to a severe back injury. In October of 2000 I was the music director and a featured artist in the Native American Musical “Dancing the Circle”. In 2007, I taught a beginning band class for Mountain Oaks Charter School at their Pine Grove location. In 2011 and 2012 I ran the beginning band program for Pioneer Elementary and Jackson Junior High School.  In 2008, I played principle trumpet for the Sierra Symphony. I was also  principle trumpet for the Mother Lode Friends of Music Orchestra during the 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 season and was called back in 2016 to be a featured soloist.  I have performed as principal trumpet with “Great Mother Lode Reed & Brass Band” which is an invitation only band, and the Amador County Concert band 2010 to 2013. I am a founding member and lead trumpet in the “Speakeazy Jazz Orchestra”  which is an 11 piece orchestra playing all original arrangements from the 1920’s and 30’s. Upon moving back to Santa Cruz county in 2012, I was asked to play the principle chair for South Valley Symphony, which I have been principal chair ever since that time. I am the current Brass coach for both Sobrato High school in Morgan Hill and Martin Murphy middle school, also in Morgan Hill. I teach all levels of music specializing in brass instruments and starting in Jan, I will advancing my own skills by studying under James Dooly who was principal of the San Jose Symphony and is now principal with Symphony Silicon Valley as well as an on call player with San Fransisco Symphony. I look to bring many of Jim's teaching techniques to my students.