What age did you start playing music?
I started playing music when I was 11 in the Texas public education system. I started on bass!
When did you know that you wanted to pursue music professionally?
I had a feeling throughout high school that I wanted to pursue music professionally, but it wasn’t until I was 22 that I was in it 100%. After I made that decision, I rearranged my whole life to pursue music!
If you could program a TSO concert, what music would you select and why?
I would definitely program Andrés Martín’s Double Bass Concerto No. 1. I think it is one of the most important pieces for the Double Bass of the 21st Century so far, and it would be a great way to engage in the cultural landscape of Tucson. This piece incorporates dance rhythms in all 3 movements. It would also be a great way to get Tucson familiar with the double bass. I would pair this concerto with the classic piece La Valse by Maurice Ravel in the first half of the program, keeping with a dance theme. After intermission, I would want to come back to one of my favorite pieces, Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland. Originally a ballet, Copland incorporates, you guessed it, a ton of dance themes! Not just any dance themes, but dance themes from the American tradition. In my opinion, Copland is one of the greatest composers of the 20th century, and this piece is one of his masterpieces. I think this program would be fun not just for the musicians, but the audience as well!
What is your favorite performance of your career?
My favorite performance of my career was actually playing Mahler 2 with my orchestra in California, the Santa Rosa Symphony, where I am currently Principal Bass. It was my first performance as a principal, and it was a really emotional experience for me. It further cemented my love of music and orchestral playing.
Which performance are you most looking forward to with the TSO and why?
I am most looking forward to the Mozart Requiem concert! I love how involved I am when I play Mozart, and pairing the concert with Arvo Pärt’s Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten (one of my all-time favorite pieces) is so exciting!
What do you love about the bass?
I love how comfortable it feels to play, despite how hefty it is. I love how the bass sounds, with its low lows and its almost mezzo-soprano highs. It’s really a beautiful instrument. Also, basses have so much character, and the bass community is one of a kind!
As a new member of the TSO, what are some of things you are most excited to experience with the orchestra?
I’m most excited to work with some of the world-class soloists we are able to work with, especially Lang Lang! Also, getting to know and hang-out with my colleagues.
What’s something about being a professional musician that might surprise people?
How much work it takes to prepare for concert sets! A lot of people assume we only work when we walk into the concert hall, and that is not the case. I routinely practice 2–6 hours a day in order to work on and maintain the music that we are playing, and that time doesn’t even take into account the amount of time my friends in the woodwinds need to spend making their reeds—which is both time-consuming and expensive!
Who is your favorite artist of all time?
Gary Karr, may he rest in peace, has been a huge inspiration for me since I was a kid. His love of the instrument, building the bass community, and “can-do” attitude when it comes to bass as a solo instrument has always inspired me. Joseph Conyers (the Principal Bass in Philadelphia) also serves as both a personal and musical inspiration. He is so involved in his community, and he brings a huge amount of energy and sound to every piece he plays.
What do you love about Tucson?
I am fairly new here, so I am still learning a lot about what Tucson has to offer. So far I love the physical landscape of Tucson. It’s so different from what I am used to from the Bay Area in California, so getting to explore the splendor and beauty of Southern Arizona has been a lot of fun. I also love the food here, there is some seriously BOMB food here. I’m excited to explore more restaurants and places!