What age did you start playing music?
It’s difficult to say when exactly I started in music. I grew up in a very musical family, my mother is a musician and retired music educator, so there was always music making going on during my childhood. I started playing the flute when I was 8 years old, after a period of begging my parents of course.
When did you know that you wanted to pursue music professionally?
When I was 16, I had the privilege of attending a summer music program in Brevard, North Carolina where I spent the whole summer performing and studying in a music school-like environment and attending so many concerts, and that really sealed the deal for me. I knew then that this was something I would really love to make a career out of one day.
What was performing a popup concert on the Sun Link streetcar like for you?
I had so much fun performing on the streetcar! I live in the historic Iron Horse neighborhood, and I rely on the streetcar a lot to get around, especially for TSO rehearsals and concerts at the music hall, so it was extra special for me to get to actually perform inside the streetcar and connect with other riders from the community.
If you could program a TSO concert, what music would you select and why?
Oh man, this is such a tough question, there’s so much music I love I wouldn’t know where to start! I’ll just mention a couple of works that I haven’t gotten the chance to play yet that I’d love to perform with TSO. Firstly, Dvořák’s 7th Symphony, often overlooked in favor of the 9th and 8th symphonies, but full of absolutely gorgeous melodies and his expert orchestration. Second, I have to mention Ravel’s ballet score Daphnis et Chloé, a favorite of most flute players, atmospheric, mysterious, and incredibly lushly orchestrated, it’s a gem of our repertoire. Lastly, I’d love to perform Amy Beach’s Gaelic Symphony. I’ve gotten to perform some of her chamber music which I absolutely love, but I’ve never gotten to perform any of her symphonic works!
What do you love about the flute in general and your instrument in particular?
I’ve always loved the brilliant sound the flute can achieve, it can almost sound shiny or sparkly, especially in an orchestral setting. I also really love how when playing quietly the flute can float on top of the orchestral texture and add a shimmery color to the rest of the instruments. My particular instrument is very special to me – it was made by hand at the William S Haynes flute company in Massachusetts, the oldest flute maker in the USA. It was the result of a long search and I think it suits the way I play very well, I’m very lucky to get to play on such a wonderful instrument.
What do you love about Tucson?
Tucson is a really special city. The thing that I love the most about Tucson is the connection people here feel to the nature surrounding us. Unlike a lot of other places I’ve lived, it’s completely normal for people to know the names of the plants and the wildlife we see, to be able to pick out the various mountain ranges around the area, and just to get out hiking, biking, climbing, or whatever, enjoying the beautiful desert we live in. I’m really happy to be part of that community.