Education
Oberlin Conservatory, Oberlin, OH
2004 - 2008. B.M. in Piano Performance with a focus in Jazz Studies
Francis W. Parker School, Chicago, IL
1993 - 2004.
Music Director
Temple Israel of Westport, Westport, CT
2023 - ongoing. Service accompanist and band leader. Additionally, creating special arrangements, producing recorded content for the temple, and helping the cantors realize innovative worship programming.
Temple Jeremiah, Northfield, IL
2019 - 2021. Responsibilities included accompanying all services, rehearsing and conducting the choir, producing video and audio pieces for streamed services, and assisting the Cantor with other Temple events.
The Chicago High School for the Arts, Chicago, IL
2012 - 2019. Music director for all mainstage musical theatre productions. Shows included Once On This Island, Company, The Drowsy Chaperone, Working, Sweet Charity, Les Miserables School Edition, and Bring It On!
After School Matters Downtown Program, Chicago IL
2008 - 2015. Music director for ASM’s selective downtown ensemble. Shows included West Side Story, Godspell, The Wiz, Thirteen, Cats, Ragtime, and Oklahoma!
Educator
The Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at Hebrew Union College, NYC
2021 - ongoing. The DFSSM is the premier training institution for Cantors in the Reform movement. Responsible for serving as accompanist in classes, student coachings, student performances, and worship services.
HaZamir, the International Jewish Teen Choir (various locations)
2021 - ongoing. HaZamir is a choir with over 30 chapters in cities in the USA and Israel. Served as the conductor for the Manhattan, Brooklyn, and New Jersey MetroWest chapters.
The Chicago High School for the Arts, Chicago, IL
2012 - 2019. Faculty member in the music and theatre departments. Courses taught included Music Theory Fundamentals, Keyboard Skills, Vocal Technique and Repertoire, and Music History.
The Merit School of Music, Chicago, IL
2014 - 2019. Co-instructor for the vocal jazz ensemble in the tuition-free conservatory program, and the summer musical theatre intensive.
After School Matters Downtown Program, Chicago, IL
2008 - 2015. Co-lead instructor for the musical theatre program at ASM’s flagship campus.
Accompanist
Service Accompanist
Extensive experience as a substitute accompanist at many Reform congregations, including: Central Synagogue (NYC), Temple Shaaray Tefila (NYC), Temple Israel of New York (NYC), Congregation Beth Elohim (Brooklyn), and Beth Emet the Free Synagogue (Evanston, IL).
Shir Chadash, the Brooklyn Jewish Community Chorus, Brooklyn, NY
2021 - 2025. Shir Chadash is a Jewish community chorus with a history going back for over 20 years, currently under the direction of Scott Stein. Responsibilities included leading sectional rehearsals, and accompanying the choir in rehearsal and performance.
City Voices, Oak Park, IL
2008 - ongoing. City Voices is an adult community chorus whose repertoire ranges from contemporary composers to Renaissance motets, under the direction of Bill Chin. Responsibilities with the choir also included running sectional rehearsals, contracting instrumentalists, and creating original compositions and arrangements for the choir.
Merit School of Music, Chicago, IL
2014 - 2019. Accompanist for the jazz vocal ensemble in the tuition-free conservatory program, under the direction of Jade Maze.
Other Notable Projects
The Fly Honey Show, Chicago, IL
2017 - 2021. Principal Keyboardist. The Fly Honey Show is a long-running variety show focused on racial, feminist, and LGBT themes.
The Grelley Duvall Show, Chicago, IL
2018 - 2020. Principal Keyboardist. The Grelley Duvall show is an annual musical comedy variety show playing on ‘80s and ‘90s nostalgia.
Music Theatre Works (formerly Light Opera Works), Evanston, IL
2013 - 2017. Keyboards for Candide (2017), Accordion for Fiddler on the Roof (2014), Keyboards for Cabaret (2013). Also served as a rehearsal pianist.
Elle Casazza
2013 - 2021. Elle Casazza was a singer/songwriter working in a retro pop style. Played keyboards on live shows and two albums: Proof (2016) and Elle Casazza and the Prophecy Boys (2021)
Capillary Action
2010 - 2012. Capillary Action was an avant-garde rock band helmed by Jonathan Pfeffer. Played accordion, percussion, and sang backing vocals on several US and European tours, and recorded on Capsized (2011).