My approach to life as a composer and human being is all about exploring creating, connecting, and exchanging ideas. I’m drawn to collaboration, blending different backgrounds, and discovering new sounds through shared experiences. That spirit began when, at seven years old, I brought my guitar into Baltimore churches and community spaces, later studying classical guitar and jazz at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C., and earning a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies at Michigan State University with mentors Randy Napoleon and Rodney Whitaker.

For me, music isn’t just self-expression; it’s community, conversation, and growth. The goal is always to connect, push boundaries, and keep moving forward.

That path has carried me through moments that shaped my artistry and outlook. At Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jack Rudin Jazz Championship, the lasting memory wasn’t recognition, but how our orchestra trusted one another to bring meaningful music to life. Internationally, my compositions have been performed and recorded by the RTVE Symphony Orchestra in Spain and the ERO European Recording Orchestra in Bulgaria through the European Film Scoring Academy. Presenting my orchestral work at Bulgaria’s National Radio Studio became less about direction and more about listening, how intention moves through language differences and the music itself.  At the Kennedy Center’s Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Residency, Jason Moran curated a remarkable group of mentors and peers, grounded in humanity and the work yet playful, drawing out the best of my music while honoring the program’s deep legacy.

I completed my MFA in Scoring for Screen at Columbia College Chicago, where mentorship with composer Mark Isham offered invaluable lessons in both craft and spirit. In his Los Angeles studio, I saw how generosity itself can be a form of professionalism, shaping the creative process as much as technique.

I move fluidly between the immediacy of the performance stage and the scope of cinema. My debut project, Nature Boy, combines original works and an iconic classic re-envisioned, crafted to vividly tell stories the ear can see.