Loading ...
`Q: How long have you worked at MU?
A: Almost three years, this is my sixth semester at MU.
Q: Where did you go to school?
A: Undergraduate: Westminster Choir College (N.J.); Towson University (M.d.); Masters: Northwestern University (Ill.) – two degrees; Doctorate: University of Colorado at Boulder (Colo.).
Q: What would you say is the most unique part of your job?
A: Working continuously to teach people how to sing, and watching/hearing them do amusing things like lip bubbles, raspberries, panting like dogs, tongue twisters (“lips, teeth, tip-o-the tongue”) and the like.
Q: Do you play any instruments?
A: Yes. While voice is my primary instrument, I also play piano and pipe organ.
Q: As director of choral activities, do you sing around the house, while doing the dishes, mowing the lawn, etc?
A: I tend to sing a lot, especially scores that I’m preparing, but I probably spend more time conducting while walking around campus, walking the dog at home, etc. I do like to listen to my iPod and spend time singing along with it or conducting the performances I’m hearing.
Q: What kind of music do you listen to for fun?
A: I tend to listen to music from my high school/college years – those glorious 70s and 80s – and fortunately, my kids like to listen to the same repertoire! There’s nothing like Billy Joel, Elton John, Aerosmith, Chicago, B52s, Pat Benatar…even John Denver sometimes (my wife’s favorite: “Rocky Mountain High”).
Q: What is the best part your day?
A: While I love teaching and really enjoy the Millersville students, the best part of the day is the end of the day when I get to go home and see my family. Unfortunately, I tend to be pretty tired by the time I get there, but I can usually stay awake for at least a couple of hours to hang out with the wife and kids!
Q: If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be and why?
A: I’m dying to go to Alaska. Our family loves mountains and snow, and it seems like we might get a couple of blizzards if we visited there. It would also be cool to see large icebergs and fun to be in the middle of absolute nowhere and have to rub noses to keep warm.