Native of Houston, TX via a brief boyhood in Mountain View, CA. Had the great fortune of attending the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, where I studied jazz piano in a pre-professional program. I've been a student of jazz music and dance ever since.

But also of Computer Science! I've always enjoyed ripping apart machines, putting them back together, and tuning them carefully to suit creative projects. So when I got my degree at St. Olaf College (in Minnesota!), I continued to work and practice as a pianist, but studied CS.

I tried a year in tech consulting as a webdev but quickly found that the work environment wasn't for me. My next four years living in Minnesota post-college were spent as a professional pianist, working mostly in collaboration with dance classes and performances. Dance and music -- name a more well-matched pair! Peanut butter and chocolate, maybe. MAYBE.

Anyways, since 2014 I've been a volunteer and staff organizer in several jazz and swing dance communities -- I served on the Midwest Lindy Fest board from 2015-2018 and have organized a month-long several-hundred-staff international jazz dance camp in Sweden.

I met my partner Nika while working at Herräng (the Swedish dance camp) and moved to her home-and-forever-town -- Eugene, OR -- shortly afterward, where I'm currently building my piano student roster, teaching swing dance, and playing jazz piano. In my spare time, I still tear up computers and code. And wander around in the Oregon forests, which are as amazing as anyone has ever claimed.

Nika and I travel the region, country, and world to learn about and connect with people through jazz dance and music! Thank bagels for Couchsurfing. It's saved our skins many times.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

It's remarkable to find ANY kind of trustworthy online community, let alone one based in physical experience. I've only ever had great experiences in the gift exchange that Couchsurfing facilitates!

Interests

• electronics
• jazz
• science fiction
• experimental music
• jazz music
• music theory
• jazz dance
• algorithms
• groove

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Organized 300ish staff at an international jazz dance camp. Dozens of countries represented! I've been fortunate to work with many amazing people.

What I Can Share with Hosts

A deep obsession with music and dance.

Countries I’ve Visited

Costa Rica, Mexico, Sweden

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States