I have a very analytical brain that loves music because of its structure and loves math for the exact same reason. After graduating from Duchess Park Secondary School, I completed my diploma in accounting and finance at the College of New Caledonia. I worked in the accounting field for a while and taught music as a second part-time job. After a few years my desk job became too repetitive for me and I started craving a higher education in music. After auditioning for several schools across Canada, I fell in love with the music faculty at the University of Manitoba. There I was able to study classical voice under musicians like Valdine Anderson and Tracey Dahl. I am so grateful for this experience because it showed me the power music could have and the importance of music in our education system.
Outside the Desautels Music Building at U of M 2019
When I was living in Winnipeg I had the amazing opportunity to work for School of Rock. It was a completely different teaching experience than I ever experienced. The educators were collaborative and always had the students’ best interest at heart. There was also a strong sense of community, even throughout the pandemic. Connecting with new students reminded me of the joy I got from teaching and I realized that music is much more than an art form or a profession. It can affect our mood, build connections, reduce stress, and even help build neural pathways.