My story: performer to coach 

Before my kids were born, my focus was on being the best performer and teacher I could be. However, becoming a parent was a turning point and completely shifted my perspective. I was surprised by the daily demands of raising children, but as the kids grew, I also realized that the lessons they learned were not just coming from my words, but from how I showed up. My actions taught by example – in both positive and negative ways. That awareness made me reevaluate my own habits, assumptions, and responses under pressure.

My twins chose their instruments (cello and bass) at a very young age, and as the resident string expert in our house, I was the one practicing with each of them. I began to see my students through a new lens. Suddenly, I could understand the challenges my students and their parents were facing, and now I had a new perspective on how to help them untangle the knots that kept expectation and motivation bound up in anxiety. This is what led me to coaching: supporting parents, students, and professionals so that they can grow with confidence and joy.

Origins

I began cello studies at age four, with my dad as my daily practice parent. While I only have a few memories of those early years, I do remember a demanding first teacher, many difficult moments, and a lot of tears. Despite struggles, there was also so much I loved - not least the community of musicians who are still my dearest friends. More than five decades later, I continue to perform and teach, with a deep appreciation for the complexity of learning and growth. 

I earned my Bachelor of Music, with a minor in Psychology, from the University of Michigan, and my Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music. My coursework in developmental psychology and string pedagogy sparked a deep and abiding interest in how children learn, adapt, and thrive with encouragement. 

After graduate school, I completed my Suzuki Cello teacher training, under the incredible guidance of Tanya Carey. My teaching path then took me through New York City, Washington, DC, and Chicago before I established my current studio in Newton, Massachusetts.

As a performer, I have appeared on stages across the country, including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Boston’s Symphony Hall. I am currently the cellist of the award‑winning Radius Ensemble, and maintain an active freelance career in the Boston area.

Alongside performing and teaching, I have studied the Alexander Technique for over twenty years. That work led me to formal teacher training - first at the Alexander Technique Center of Cambridge, and later at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where I earned my certificate under Debi Adams. My Alexander Technique work supports performers, professionals, and students at all stages, both in person and online.

For several years, I taught the Introduction to the Alexander Technique at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA, and I have offered AT workshops for a wide range of groups, including pre‑professional musicians and dancers, music studios, youth orchestras, physical therapists, yoga studios, and sports clinics. Using coaching in combination with the Alexander Technique, I’ve led seminars on performance anxiety, parenting young musicians, orchestra probation, teacher communication, and supporting student athletes.

I am also a Registered Yoga Teacher and a dedicated hot yoga practitioner. The studio is my sanctuary and reset button. My two teenage boys haven’t joined me there yet, but I trust they’ll find their mats in their own time.