When I was a child, I was told that I had the world inside of me. It sounds magical but I had no clue what that meant. I'm 28 years old and I'm still figuring that out. One thing I did know was that I had an insatiable desire to understand the world around me. Curiosity fueled every decision I made then just as it does today and while hindsight is 2020, I can't imagine the life I have now being possible without enough people allowing me to question everything. 

The thing about being a curious child is that you will find yourself in situations where the adults around you don't have an answer for your questions. At that point, you could choose to accept the limits of their knowledge, or you can explore for yourself and teach them and yourself at the same time. I chose the latter and it resulted in being stuck with a violin in my hand at age 3. It was the best decision I ever made and I didn't even know it yet. 

A wooden box with four strings was the key that unlocked the life I would live as an adult. It helped me find my voice and learn how to socialize. It put me in situations where I learned to work with those I disagreed with toward a common goal. It took me to various countries and carried me through trials and tribulations. It pushed me through two undergraduate degrees and one graduate program: Psychology, Violin Performance and Music Education. It helped me win auditions, provided my income and then stuck me in front of students so that I could do the same. It allowed me to meet my wife and form relationships that were bigger than any one country. It helped me build a community wherever I was planted because with all of our differences, everyone loved the sound of a violin played well. 

This entire section may feel prosaic, but it answers the question of who I am in a much less bland way that listing everything I've accomplished since I opened a case with a wooden box and four strings. I am a deeply passionate musician, composer, educator and music education advocate that seeks to share my gifts with the world and in turn, inspire others to do the same.