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About Me

I first picked up the trumpet - technically a cornet - in 5th grade in Dayton, Ohio. I really wanted to play saxophone like a couple of my friends, but my mom had other plans. She told me if I wanted to be in band, I had to play the cornet she'd picked up at a garage sale for my older brother. So I gave it a shot - and ended up loving it. I studied privately all through middle and high school with outstanding teachers, including Kermit Simmons (Woody Herman Band) and Basil Drew (U.S. Army Bands and lead trumpet at Suttmiller's), and from there, trumpet became a lifelong passion. 

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I went on to study with Dr. Karl Sievers at Wright State University and the University of Oklahoma. He shaped my playing and personal growth, and has remained a lifelong mentor and friend. After several years of teaching at Southern Nazarene University and performing across the country - from orchestras and big bands to brass quintets and even a circus - I moved to Kansas City in 2014 to begin my doctoral studies at the UMKC Conservatory. I studied with Dr. Keith Benjamin and completed my doctorate in trumpet performance.

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Behind every great musician is a great teacher who believed in them first.

My family and I really loved the Kansas City area, and we decided to make it home. We settled in Olathe, and I've enjoyed being part of the Johnson County music community ever since. Through Curtin Trumpet Academy, I work with students from across the area - helping them build solid fundamentals, prepare for auditions, and improve their playing in a focused and supportive setting. I enjoy helping students overcome challenges, build confidence, and discover what they're capable of on the trumpet. Whether a student is just getting started or aiming for college programs or competitions, I aim to provide steady, thoughtful instruction that meets them where they are and helps them move forward. ​

Education

B.M..A.
University of Oklahoma

M.M. Trumpet Performance University of Oklahoma

D.M.A. Trumpet Performance

UMKC Conservatory

Favorites...

  • Candy - Milk Duds, Twizzlers, Mike and Ike's, Peanut M&Ms, Reese Stix

  • Food - New York Style Pizza, Jersey Mike's Subs, Chipotle Bowl

  • Drink - Coke

  • Movies - Rocky, Field of Dreams, The Godfather, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Sting

  • Music Artists - Stevie Wonder, Maurice Andre, Frank Sinatra, Queen, James Ehnes​​​​​

  • Sports Teams - Oklahoma Sooners, Manchester City, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals

  • Quote - "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't -- you're right." - Henry Ford

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