My childhood was filled with classical music.  My dad was the organist at our Methodist church in Whittier CA, and also played the piano beautifully.  We owned a 6’ Steinway Grand piano, passed down from my mom’s dad Aurelio Giorni, a concert pianist and composer. 

 

I started lessons at 6 years old, and continued right through college, getting a BMusEd with piano emphasis from the University of Colorado in Boulder.  I found my way into computers as a steady profession, first at Conoco and then at IBM.  While living in Poughkeepsie NY I enrolled at Vassar College, and had advanced piano studies with Thomas Sauer (who also teaches at Mannes) for 11 years.  (I also studied composition with Annea Lockwood and Richard Wilson.) 

 

Shortly after moving to Las Vegas in 2012, I enrolled at UNLV.  A couple of years later I retired from IBM, and was accepted into the Masters of Piano program, studying with both Mykola Suk and Timothy Hoft.  This I accomplished in 2018.  Over the years I have enjoyed teaching students, being a part of musical ensembles, accompanying singers, and simply playing for myself and for others.  Music has been an endless source of enjoyment!