CURRENT MISSION

To see as much of the world as I can, make friends, and face fears. Also, trying to stay out of used bookstores!

ABOUT ME

I'm easy-going, quiet without being necessarily shy (though sometimes it takes me a minute to warm to a conversation!). I'm genuinely interested in what people have to say, and I enjoy learning about/from people whose views and backgrounds differ from my own. Fortunate to have been raised by great parents who have encouraged me to pursue my dreams in a career that isn't particularly lucrative (playing and teaching classical music), I cope with the resulting guilt by making (bad) self-deprecating jokes!

But seriously, every day that goes by, I am awakened further to music's potential to keep me inspired, and to inspire the children I teach and the audiences I play for. It's a pleasure and a privilege to be doing something I love.

PHILOSOPHY

I'm not a religious person, but I've found myself drawn to religious people. I think one reason for this is that I connect with the passionate way they view the world: Seeking out an experience that places them in a context larger than what they see every day, and approaching every action and personal relationship in a mindful way. (At least, that's how I see religion at its best!)

So, I guess you could say that's my philosophy. As I get older, I value sincerity and openness more than anything else. I seek these out in other people, and I'm doing my best to cultivate them in myself.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I'm just an occasional surfer for now (mostly during the summer when the teaching slows down). However, I'm very interested in hosting in the future.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've used Couchsurfing on a couple of cross-country bus trips, and found all the people I've met to be friendly, interesting and just all-around awesome!

Interests

I'm a semi-recent college graduate attempting to make a career out of being a musician. (I reluctantly added the "semi-" so as to keep my profile current...). Currently I split my time between teaching private lessons and elementary-school group classes, and performing in regional orchestras, of which Michigan has quite a few! I have played in a band, and I play string quartets and such...I guess you could say most of my life's high points have had a musical tie-in somewhere! I'm also semi-addicted to browsing used bookstores and record shops; sadly, I buy books much faster than I can read them.

• books
• music
• classical music
• violin
• blues
• religion

Music, Movies, and Books

A representative sampling, keeping it brief: Surf Ninjas (movie), Haydn's String Quartet Op. 74 No. 3 "The Rider," Anthony Bourdain's "Kitchen Confidential"

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Playing Mahler's Fifth Symphony with my college orchestra at Carnegie Hall. Watching the comet Hale-Bopp through binoculars in the middle of the Mojave Desert when I was maybe ten years old (along with other cosmic spectacles over the years). Riding in a bus down the Amalfi Coast in Italy, as the driver threaded impossibly narrow hairpin turns revealing lemon groves, tin roofs and the dazzling blues of the Mediterranean.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'll have to think about this and get back to you! But off the top of my head, I can tell you plenty about classical music and the violin!

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Liechtenstein, Poland, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States