I was born in 1978 in St. Louis, Missouri, and my family had recently moved to the United States from Jamaica (by way of a few years in Canada -- where some of my relatives remain, and where I may eventually try to move).

The first piece of music I ever wrote, probably when I was about 7 years old, was actually based on the chords -- that one of my brothers taught me on the piano -- to OMD's song 'Enola Gay.' I always imagine I was one of the only kids listening to music like The Dead Milkmen, OMD, Erasure, XTC, Robyn Hitchcock, The Smiths/Morrissey, U2, R.E.M., Pixies, Depeche Mode, The Clash, etc. Special thanks to my brother, Dave, for getting me into such interesting music from such an early age.

I learned to read music and play recorder in Montessori. (Something I realized recently is that I don't remember a time when I didn't read music.) I played alto saxophone in school bands from 4th through 12th grade, and I played (singer songwriter and guitarist) in a few rock bands in high school; that's when I really got into writing music. I ended up doing an undergrad in Music Composition at Columbia College Chicago, where I studied with a number of great composers (including Ilya Levinson, Gustavo Leone, and Patricia Morehead) and pianists (including Josette Behrend and Laura Hoffman). I also got to play for a year in a jazz band conducted by jazz and classical great, William Russo. It was a wonderful experience.

While studying with Ilya Levinson the last 2 years I was in Chicago -- I've since moved to Seattle -- I learned a lot of atonal, experimental, even mathematical compositional techniques, and that's when I feel I really became a knowledgeable composer (if I can say that about myself...). Ilya taught me a number of techniques within the atonal realm, and he encouraged me -- and this is the best music advice I've ever received -- to invent my own techniques.

So nowadays, I write fairly mathematically-based, experimental music. I try also to infuse my work with a lot of emotion and listenability. I take source ideas, like a chord progression or a melody, and I run the ideas through a bunch of mathematical techniques. I end up with a lot of new material that I then sort through. I keep what sounds good (thanks, Duke!) and I reorganize it, etc. I was very influenced by the book of Arnold Schoenberg's collected essays, Style and Idea. His essay "Heart and Brain in Music," like many of his essays, has had a lasting impact on my writing. My goal is to create music that is very intense, both intellectually and emotionally. To me, that just seems like a worthwhile thing to do...

I moved to Seattle in 2003, where I continued my studies outside of school -- studying with composers Gerhard Samuel and Christopher Shainin, and pianist Julie Ives. (All amazing musicians.) The music community in Seattle is vastly eclectic, ground-breaking, and fun. One organization I’m active in is Washington Composers Forum.

I began teaching in 2004, and my plate is currently (mostly!) full, teaching privately and working on my own projects. I also still contemplate, at some point, grad school (it's not difficult: hmm...).

For further information about music lessons (piano/theory/composition) in the Seattle area, please feel free to contact us here.