I did not come from a musical family but somehow, miraculously, a musician was born. I fell in love with music, all types of music, at a very young age. Growing up I studied piano for five years, French horn for 13 years, and bag pipe for a short time. Upon applying to colleges I decided that I wanted to make a career out of music but also wanted to help people in some way. Arizona State University had the perfect music program for me and there I received two Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Therapy and Orchestral Performance. In college I continued to study piano and began delving into guitar and voice. After college I provided music therapy services to patients at the Austin State Hospital, the Virginia Treatment Center for Children in Richmond, VA, the Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center in Fairfax, VA, and the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Home in Alexandria, VA. When my first son was born I decided to stay home with him, however, the sweet melodies of Music Together^® at Heartsong Music in Austin, Texas called me back to the musical working world. I am now a certified Music Together teacher and the Licensed Music Together Center Director for Sproutsongs Music.  I have also been awarded Music Together Certification 2 status by the Center for Music and Young Children in Princeton, NJ. Besides chauffering my three boys to their various activities and teaching at Sproutsongs, I also love playing French horn in my quartet, teaching piano lessons, playing trumpet with my sons, and running. 

I was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and after some years in Sweden and Canada, I found myself in the U.S in 2012. Though trained as a molecular biologist, I have always played music; first and foremost with family, but also as a child in church choir, school and girl scouts, and throughout adult life at every social gathering possible. I play guitar, ukulele and flute.

Music Together struck a massive chord with me when I discovered it while living in Vancouver, Canada. I got the opportunity to teach at Sproutsongs when I relocated to Raleigh, where I taught for 6 years including  Babies only classes, and was awarded Music Together Certification 1 status, before taking a break in 2019 to finally have my own family of three children, including twins! Concurrent with teaching at Sproutsongs, I worked for 4 years as the music teacher at Exploris elementary school in Raleigh.

Facilitating music in my community is so close to my heart and I love to make music possible for everyone, especially children and the elderly. My experiences include assisting a music therapist with music programs for seniors with dementia, playing music at care facilities and leading sing-alongs wherever I go (I've been occasionally called a live human acoustic karaoke machine but part of that is just being Irish, we bring music wherever we go!). I play traditional Irish music on guitar and through song, and have provided Irish music at schools, libraries, local community festivals and of course Irish pub sessions and events in the Triangle. 

My wish is that music is as accessible, fulfilling, natural, and enjoyable for everyone, as it is in my life. I truly believe that it is never too late to start participating in music, but helping families with young children get started on their musical journey has been a wonder and a privilege. I am so happy to be back at Sproutsongs with my dear fellow teachers and can't wait to teach Music Together again with a fresh perspective, as a parent.

While growing up in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia, music was alway a part of my life. I grew up taking piano lessons, playing flute in marching & concert bands, singing in church and school choirs, and participating in musical theater.  In college, in Waynesburg, PA, I earned a BA in Psychology and a minor in Music.  I also enjoyed studying foreign languages and dreamed of traveling which led me to spend three years teaching English in South Korea.  I've also called Atlanta, New York City, and Dallas home over the years and am enjoying exploring Raleigh.  After a hiatus from music in the midst of all that moving around, I rediscovered the joy of singing when I joined a community chorus in New York and wondered how I'd been living without it!  I learned about SproutSongs & Music Together from a simple search for a music class to bring my (now) 3 year old daughter to and am excited to be able to share such a joyful experience as a teacher!

I have taught Music Together in Fort Meyers, FL since 2011. As a nanny for many years, I know what it's like to make up songs in the car, dance around the kitchen and surround children with basic musical concepts. Originally from Kansas, I received my musical education from Wichita State University. I also represented my home state in the Miss America Program as Miss Kansas 2001. Since then I have performed professionally in music theater productions across the country. I am married and have two children, Lennon and Elliot.

I grew up steeped in music, even now my mother will proudly tell folks that I sang before I could talk. Our home in Worcester, Massachusetts, was always abuzz with someone practicing their instrument, or their choir music, or making up silly lyrics to a familiar tune! I sang in choruses, choirs, and a capella groups throughout my childhood and into college however I never thought of myself as "a singer." I was drawn to group singing for its community- and relationship-building, and for those goosebumps when the whole group nails a particular harmony.

Our local music school hosted an annual instrument petting zoo and at 3 years old I fell in love with the double bass. I had the privilege of studying and performing classical and jazz bass through college, including earning first chair in the All-State orchestra my senior year of high school and playing in Columbia's free jazz ensemble, our "final exam" was a concert attended by Kenny G! Over the years I have dabbled in many other instruments, including ukulele and flute, but I always come back to the bass.

After college in NYC I bounced around New England while I was finding my path. I brought my love of music (and my ukulele) with me to every job, from nannying to caring for a friend's 99 year old grandfather, even a brief stint as a gas station clerk where I would play music in the parking lot on my breaks. Finally in 2018 I moved to Raleigh to live with my partner and since welcoming our son in 2021 I have been parenting full-time. And our son is what brought me to Sproutsongs! I'm thrilled to join this incredible group of women as we help parents share the joy of making music together with their children.

The real teachers are the parents and caregivers! Children are biologically wired to respond most to the model of the people with whom they have a bond of attachment.