A Passion to Perform
I'm just a boy who grew up exploring the woods, kicking his skateboard in several directions, watching Disney Movies in the basement with his big brother, and writing angsty songs with his garage band. That same adventurous spirit that ran through my veins years back still carries on in me today.
Through the years, as the worlds conforming hug became tighter and tighter, I realized that music-singing-and performing were vital parts of this world that kept my soul ripe and vibrant. After going through high school performing at every assembly, concert, and open mic I could get my hands on, I found myself graduated and half way through undergrad before I said enough is enough. I was either furthering my knowledge in the one thing that has held peace in my heart all these years; or I was removing myself from the academic narrative and taking to the outside world.
I finished strong with my college journey and received my BA in Music: Vocal Performance. I even picked up some awesome gigs on the weekends with a few classmates and created a band who I shared memories with that I will never forget.
Now that college was through it was time for DUN DUN DUN...brace yourselves... "THE REAL WORLD". I was sure to set sail straight back to New York, after doing an unforgettable Internship at Flying Television and falling in love with the city, but I figured let's keep the options open and check out LA and Nashville before jumping. This is around the time my big brother Nick told me to check out a place called Austin. My immediate reaction was "Texas!? Do you know me at all!?". Of course this was before everyone decided to film their next Netflix show there, and everyone across the country packed up their bags to head there. All that to say I ended up moving to Austin almost immediately after visiting.
Austin Texas, the "Live Music Capital of the World"... where they're "Keeping it Weird" on the daily... I'M IN. For the next four years I sang song after song at Weddings, Corporate Events, Casinos, Festivals, Bars/Clubs...and I still managed to sing in the shower every once in a while. I even took some acting gigs, and stayed busy with acting/dancing classes on the week days. When I wasn't singing I was teaching Voice and Piano, which I'm still blessed to be doing today.
BUT THEN....THE PANDEMIC. Live Music Who!?.... All gigs were canceled until further notice, so what do we do? Pack up the dog (Shimmer ♥️) and head home to Maryland to spend some quality "quarantined" time with the family. On that 24 hour drive down the road I thought.... well if there's ever a time to further my knowledge in performing, while performing isn't an option, its NOW! I said, I'll apply to NYU (Something I've always dreamed about doing), and if I get in I'll go. Two weeks after getting accepted I moved back to NYC and started my Masters Program in Vocal Performance: Music Theatre. I didn't even get back to Austin to get my belongings until after the first semester was over. But... "life is for living" as Anna Delvey would say lol.
My time here in NYC has been unbelievable and returning to school to learn more about the craft was one of the best decisions I could have made. Since moving here Iv'e had the opportunity to perform in multiple productions such as Storm, The Good Trouble Mixtape, and In Pieces which the Composer himself, Joey Contreras, was able to attend. I'm also grateful to have been selected as a Vocalist for the NYU Commencement Ceremonies at Radio City Music Hall and Yankee Stadium.
This summer I'm looking forward to playing Claude in a production of Hair the Musical as a part of the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival!
This is the story up until now. But hey, I'm just riding the wave God's got for me, so hold tight!! I'm looking forward to graduating and swimming in the stream of the Audition Scene here in NYC. I want to perform in shows that hold meaning and inspire. Shows that you leave from feeling alive. I'm up for stages, on camera, really any platform... I just want the work to come from a place of life, spirit, and transformation.
Through the years, as the worlds conforming hug became tighter and tighter, I realized that music-singing-and performing were vital parts of this world that kept my soul ripe and vibrant. After going through high school performing at every assembly, concert, and open mic I could get my hands on, I found myself graduated and half way through undergrad before I said enough is enough. I was either furthering my knowledge in the one thing that has held peace in my heart all these years; or I was removing myself from the academic narrative and taking to the outside world.
I finished strong with my college journey and received my BA in Music: Vocal Performance. I even picked up some awesome gigs on the weekends with a few classmates and created a band who I shared memories with that I will never forget.
Now that college was through it was time for DUN DUN DUN...brace yourselves... "THE REAL WORLD". I was sure to set sail straight back to New York, after doing an unforgettable Internship at Flying Television and falling in love with the city, but I figured let's keep the options open and check out LA and Nashville before jumping. This is around the time my big brother Nick told me to check out a place called Austin. My immediate reaction was "Texas!? Do you know me at all!?". Of course this was before everyone decided to film their next Netflix show there, and everyone across the country packed up their bags to head there. All that to say I ended up moving to Austin almost immediately after visiting.
Austin Texas, the "Live Music Capital of the World"... where they're "Keeping it Weird" on the daily... I'M IN. For the next four years I sang song after song at Weddings, Corporate Events, Casinos, Festivals, Bars/Clubs...and I still managed to sing in the shower every once in a while. I even took some acting gigs, and stayed busy with acting/dancing classes on the week days. When I wasn't singing I was teaching Voice and Piano, which I'm still blessed to be doing today.
BUT THEN....THE PANDEMIC. Live Music Who!?.... All gigs were canceled until further notice, so what do we do? Pack up the dog (Shimmer ♥️) and head home to Maryland to spend some quality "quarantined" time with the family. On that 24 hour drive down the road I thought.... well if there's ever a time to further my knowledge in performing, while performing isn't an option, its NOW! I said, I'll apply to NYU (Something I've always dreamed about doing), and if I get in I'll go. Two weeks after getting accepted I moved back to NYC and started my Masters Program in Vocal Performance: Music Theatre. I didn't even get back to Austin to get my belongings until after the first semester was over. But... "life is for living" as Anna Delvey would say lol.
My time here in NYC has been unbelievable and returning to school to learn more about the craft was one of the best decisions I could have made. Since moving here Iv'e had the opportunity to perform in multiple productions such as Storm, The Good Trouble Mixtape, and In Pieces which the Composer himself, Joey Contreras, was able to attend. I'm also grateful to have been selected as a Vocalist for the NYU Commencement Ceremonies at Radio City Music Hall and Yankee Stadium.
This summer I'm looking forward to playing Claude in a production of Hair the Musical as a part of the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival!
This is the story up until now. But hey, I'm just riding the wave God's got for me, so hold tight!! I'm looking forward to graduating and swimming in the stream of the Audition Scene here in NYC. I want to perform in shows that hold meaning and inspire. Shows that you leave from feeling alive. I'm up for stages, on camera, really any platform... I just want the work to come from a place of life, spirit, and transformation.
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