BIO

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I grew up in Pullman, Washington playing violin through the Suzuki method and played mostly classical until long after I graduated from college. When I was serving as a teacher in the Mississippi Teacher Corps (1998-2001), I got interested in playing blues and bluegrass, but I wasn't sure where to start. It was moving to Fairbanks in 2006 that changed all that.

 

I tried out jazz through the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival and then, through my job as a high-school English teacher, I connected with some colleagues who were also folk musicians who encouraged me to try my hand at improvisation. Soon, I was songwriting and learning to play through a mic. And I even found the courage to enter a national fiddle contest in 2010. 

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This community has given me many opportunities to grow and explore. I am a more skilled, more versatile, and more adventurous musician than I ever thought I could be. My confidence as a musician and performer has spilled over into my teaching, writing, and other endeavors. I've finally stepped into the role as lead singer for Fireweed Fiddle, and I'm grateful for the adventures I have had and for the ones that lie ahead.