UNITED STATES ARMY VETERAN
I was born and raised in Springfield, Illinois. After receiving my associates degree in pursuit of a music education, I joined the US Army in June of 2010. I completed Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, graduating as soldier of the cycle with the General Commandant Award, and moved onto Arabic Linguistic training at the Defensive Language Institute in Monterey, CA. In June 2012, I received an honorable discharge and returned home to continue my music studies. In September of 2012, I frequented the hospital, as I began to lose my sight.
By 2014 I was declared legally blind. Determined to continue my musical passion, I was accepted into PSU’s School of Music and moved to Portland with my husband to study under Joël Belgique, the principal Violist of the Oregon Symphony. Since arriving in Portland, I have taken classes through the Oregon Commission for the Blind for Braille music notation, as well as orientation and mobility skills, and have helped pave the way for visually impaired students to succeed in their pursuit of a Bachelor of Music.
During the summer of 2016, I was awarded the Gilman International Study Scholarship and traveled to Florence, Italy, through Performing Arts Abroad for an intensive Viola study program. I am currently a sophomore in my Viola Performance program and play in the school’s orchestra and several chamber ensembles, as well as regularly performing solo concerts. My husband and three cats help keep me sane and manage my blooming artistic career.
Download a print-quality image (24 x 36) of this veteran’s portrait here.