Tell us about your family:

I grew up in the Philadelphia area alongside my three sisters. My father is a financial advisor and my mother worked in the medical field. My parents decided that we would all take instrument lessons, so a lot of my younger life consisted of practicing, going to concerts, and supporting my siblings in their interests. I spent my undergraduate years in NYC and after, my fiancé and I moved to Houston to pursue our master’s degrees for two years in Horn and Trumpet Performance. We moved to Buffalo in 2024, and now both work for professional orchestras. 

Why did you start playing the French horn?

My family had moved when I was in 5th grade which took my sisters and I into a new school district. This school had more opportunities in terms of extracurricular activities that I did not even know existed. I had a friend who would always stay after school to play her flute, and I was interested in what she was doing, so I went with her to check it out. I asked a ton of questions and the band director showed me many options to which I landed on the brass family. He handed me a paper, told me to go home and look everything up, and requested I listen to each instrument. I went home, spoke with my mom and she said, “You should play something no one else plays!”—so I chose the French horn, and continued to research it. I watched Genghis Barbie nonstop, which is where I got most of my initial inspiration, and fell in love with it.

What do you enjoy about being a member of the BPO?

I enjoy the sense of community that this orchestra has. My colleagues were very inviting from the beginning, and I am so grateful for those relationships.  

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not performing?

I absolutely love to cook and bake, and experimenting to create new sourdough recipes! I enjoy exploring new places with my fiancé and finding new plants to add to my collection. Together we enjoy being in nature, whether that is at the beach or hiking. We also make and sell our own lip balm and are always actively seeking out how to make all-natural and organic everyday products! We really enjoy spending time with family and friends as well. 

What is a favorite Buffalo experience for dining/recreation?

My favorite experience in Buffalo has to be the Buffalo Botanical Gardens. I also love attending the Elmwood farmers market! For dining, there are too many great choices, but I have loved trying new pastries at Butter Block, coffee at Remedy House and Jay’s Artisan Pizza. 

What do you want audience members to know about the BPO?

We deeply appreciate our audiences because a performance cannot be a performance without someone on the receiving end. Personally, I am the most fulfilled when I feel connected to the audience and know how they feel about the music we put out! 

What piece or program are you most excited to perform this season?

I was most excited about playing Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, and am really looking forward to playing Shostakovich’s 5th. Shostakovich 5 was one of the first major symphonies I played in high school, and I’ve always found it enthralling and nostalgic.