ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

So many things have led up to this moment for you to be able to read these words. Among them are the influences and support of so many people that have helped me be the artist, teacher, and person that I am today. With that said, I’d like to acknowledge some folks:

My family and friends… Thank you for your support of my growth over so many years.

Mrs. Carrie Nicolia, Mr. Jeffery Groth, and that guy… Thank you for helping me realize my passion for music, for giving me the opportunities to do so, and for keeping me on the path I needed to be on.

MaryBeth Minnis… Words will never be enough, but thank you for not giving up on me— for seeing me through some of the hardest points in my life and growing with me through them.

Dr. Jay Batzner… Thank you for helping me break down my preconceived notions about what music “had” to be, and helping me establish a groundwork for exploring what it could be, as well as for seeing me through some of the hardest points in my life and helping me learn to help myself.

Dr. Christopher Chapman… Thank you for inspiring me to think about living my life not only as an instrumentalist or composer, but as an artist, as well as for giving me an even deeper appreciation for music as a whole.

Dr. James Batcheller… Thank you for your endless wisdom on instrumental music, music education, and for quotes that I’ll be using until the day I die.

Dr. José-Luis Maúrtua… Thank you for giving me a glimpse into another way to look at music. I wish that I could’ve gotten so many more years to learn from you, but I know that the world and I are so much better off for having had you in it.

Dr. Evan Ware, Dr. Scott Harding, Dr. Scott Schumann, Dr. Keith Clifton… Thank each of you for helping me see music in a different way and helping me grow as an overall musician.

Dr. Alan Gumm… Thank you for helping me in how I saw myself as a teacher and viewed the idea of education as a whole.

All of the other amazing CMU faculty… Thank you for helping myself and so many others learn the skills to positively impact the lives of so many people through music.

C.J. Russell… Thank you for helping me realize that my music can resonate with people on a deep level, for endlessly supporting my creativity, and for reminding me that music can— and dare I say, should— be humorous… at least sometimes.

David A. Uhrig… Thank you for being a mentor, a clutch drill writer, and a friend. I’m endlessly thankful that I was able to student teach with you.

Shannon Hathcock and the rest of the DeKeyser community… Thank you for giving me the opportunity to realize that I am, in fact, a teacher, and that I can do great things.

All of the fantastic conductors, performers, composers, and other music people I’ve had the pleasure of working with… I’ve been so fortunate to have gotten to work and grow with so many great musicians in my career, and I’ll always be grateful for having had the opportunities to do so. Thank you for making the world a better place.

Mark Kole and Kelley Raab-Butler… Thank you for helping me learn how to live a life that I am happy to have and to experience.

Pennfield Music logo by Abdoul Naamou, photos on site by Ruth Gazetti and Isabel Karnes