My junior recital is done!

I CAN BREATHE AGAIN!

Me and my family after my concert on Sunday evening.
Photo Credits: Terri Dennis

After three years of instruction from the oh so talented Dr. Janna Lower, I finally performed my junior recital at the University of Florida. As you all already know, I had some wicked nerves leading up to this performance. I put in countless hours of practicing and rehearsing with my pianist Alan Clark leading up to this concert, and it all came together yesterday evening on Easter Sunday.

Alongside Alan, we performed Vitali's Chaconne, Bach's Andante from his Sonata No. 2 in A minor, Kreisler's arrangement of Gluck's Melodie, and the first two movements of Franck's Violin Sonata No. 2 in A minor. It was a monster of a program but I am just so happy with how it all went. I was dreading how my nerves would affect my performance, but the second I walked out on stage, all of my nerves just melted away. I swear, it was a near miracle.

I was able to perform for some of my friends from the music school, some faculty members and some of my family members who both flew and drove into town for the concert. I was so humbled by all of the love I received, and I can't thank everyone enough for all of their support. Special thanks goes out to my teacher Dr. Lower, because she pushed me to be a better musician every day leading up to this performance.

Me performing in my junior recital concert on Sunday, April
16 in room 101 of UF's music building.
Photo credits: Miguel Maya

One thing I can say for sure is that although I am so happy it is all over, I am also so glad I was able to experience something like this; something so intimate and personal. I was able to share something I love with the people that mean the most to me and that means the world to me. That's what makes music and the arts so enjoyable. For a brief second or even minute in any performance, you are able to see the true heart of the performing musician. I hope that I have an opportunity to perform another concert like this in my future.

University of Florida Symphony Orchestra and Choir perform spring concert

At last! The University of Florida Symphony Orchestra's spring season has come to an end and looking back, I can't believe how many unforgettable memories I have made in this orchestra. I have met so many wonderful people, and I am just so glad that I could be a part of this amazing ensemble for another semester.

Celebrating the end of the orchestra season at the Phillips
Center for the Performing Arts with the University of
Florida violin studio.

Tonight, we performed a concert called Hymns & Heroes from the Movies in conjunction with the UF Concert Choir and the Gainesville Master Chorale. We played music by Verdi, Mancini, Prokofiev, and of course, the king of movie music, John Williams. It was a concert so full of energy and excitement; I nearly laughed out loud when I saw how many people's faces lit up in the audience when we started to play John William's renowned Duel of the Fates from Episode 1 of Star Wars, The Phantom Menace.

All in all, it has been one crazy semester but this was definitely a great way to end the spring season! What was particularly nice about this concert was that the audience was able to experience something a little different. They didn't just hear plain classically music; they were able to hear some pieces with fire and even some with mourning and reverence. Cheers to that!

N-nn-nnnn-nerves and how to handle them

I am officially in countdown mode!! I have just three more days to go until my junior violin recital, and literally all I'm thinking about is how nervous I know I'm going to be. Not good.

So, since I am a perfectionist at heart, I did some research. I wanted to know exactly how to manage
my nerves, or at least learn a few remedies to help get rid of some of them. I came across an interesting article by Dr. Noa Kageyama titled "How to Make Performance an Asset Instead of a Liability," and I believe it has a lot of great pointers about how to mentally control nerves. So, let's break it down, for your sake, and mine.

Here's a stock photo of a stressed and nervous person for
your enjoyment.

Centering. Apparently, that's the key to it all. Kageyama says that centering is a pre-performance routine that was introduced by Olympic sport psychologist Dr. Don Greene to, essentially, channel your nerves in a productive way. So how exactly do we do this? According to the article, there are seven steps to centering:

1. Pick your focal point
2. Form your clear intention
3. Breathe mindfully
4. Scan and release excess tension
5. Find your center
6. Repeat your process cue
7. Direct your energy

So as my countdown clock ticks on, I'm going to test out these techniques for mindfulness and stress reduction. I'll let you know how they turn out!

P.S. Here is my shameless self-advertising:

My junior violin recital!

Sunday, April 16, 2017.

5:30 p.m. in the music building at the University of Florida!

Room 101.

Mythbusting: let's talk money

Okay, so I have been posting consistently about events and artists I've come across, but I think its due time for some real talk. Mythbusting and talking about money...two of my favorite things! Absolutely joking right now, but you get my point.

I know that almost every person on this earth can appreciate art and music in some manner, but what about the people who want to be involved in it somehow? What about the people who want to make a career out of it? Is this possible financially?

The answer is yes! I came across this wonderful blog post by Drew Alexander Forde, a Juilliard graduate, who has been thriving in the social media music scene because of his innovative ways to break down the stigmas of classical music. He plays covers of popular songs occasionally and frequently collaborates with other artists, making music more accessible to people of all different backgrounds.

Nonetheless, Drew made a few great points in his post that are worth thinking about:
- The harder you work, the more likely you are to succeed.
- Not everyone can be a Grammy winning artist, but THAT'S OKAY.
- Look for fans and sponsors; a little bit of money can go a long way.
- Musicians make a lot of money through passive income.
- Seek out gigs, teaching opportunities, and ad revenue from YouTube.

And I have to say, even though I don't have 14,989 YouTube subscribers (*cough cough* Drew does... I might have 2 if I'm lucky), he makes some great points! For me, as a full-time student working part time at a TV station, I don't base my income entirely on music, but random things pop up throughout my semesters that do help bring in a little extra money each month.

So my advice is go for it! If you're worried that your art or music won't be able to support the lifestyle you want, start slowly. Try picking up more gigs while keeping a side job and see if anything sticks. Maybe you'll get a venue that loves you and keeps asking you to come back to perform. The only thing is you'll never know until you try!

First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville celebrates Palm Sunday with an afternoon concert

Regardless of race or religion, music always seems to succeed at uniting people. One of my favorite quotes about music says, "Through music we are no longer separate and alone. Through music we are one and we are whole." Today, the First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville took this approach with music in an afternoon concert in honor of the religious holiday Palm Sunday.

The First Presbyterian choir in rehearsal for their Palm
Sunday performance. 

I was asked to perform in the orchestra for this concert and with my hectic end-of-the-semester schedule, I was hesitant to say yes at first but in the end, I am glad I did. Under the direction of the talented music minister at First Presbyterian Church, Mark Coffey, we performed Samuel Barber's heartbreaking Adagio for Strings and Maurice Durufle's Requiem, a polyphonic setting of nine parts of the traditional mass. The choir was a mix singers from the church and other nearby ministries, and the orchestra was a jumble of musicians from around Gainesville, some of whom also perform with the Gainesville Orchestra.

Now, the concert was an absolute success. Everyone was so responsive and attentive to the music, which nearly sang itself. I know that is an awful thing to say because I know the singers and other musicians in the orchestra were working very hard to convey their parts properly, but it was almost like the broad acoustics in the church carried the music to every corner in the facility. No person in the audience had to strain to hear any voice, however soft they may have been.

For me, it was a fun experience that I was happy to partake in. The talent in arts and culture scene is Gainesville is sometimes overlooked, but today, I felt that the singers and musicians at First Presbyterian Church proved to the community yet again the importance of music.

Gainesville leaps into spring at Santa Fe College's Spring Arts Festival

Another beautiful weekend, another beautiful arts festival. Over the weekend, Santa Fe College held its 48th Annual Spring Arts Festival in the Northeast Gainesville Historic District; aka downtown Gainesville! Booths for the visiting artists were arranged up and down 1st Street, and a feeling of happiness was in the air. Or perhaps that was just the pounding heat and humidity...
Either way, the art on display and for sale was absolutely breathtaking! I stumbled across sculptors, fabric artists, painters, musicians and media artists alike. However, one artist's work in particular jumped out at me. Georgie LeHoop is an artist and painter from St. Clair, Pennsylvania, who takes a very innovative approach to creating new art. Georgie plays on the idea of synesthesia, a neurological phenomenon that essentially leads to an overlapping of sensory experiences. He effectively manages to blend music, an auditory experience, with painting, a visual experience.
Georgie's art is fascinating because to the naked eye, his work appears to be simple paintings of music notes and staves on various canvases, be it on paper or on actual musical cymbals. However, the true art in his work lies in its production. Georgie creates his art by drumming on canvases. He records the rhythms he plays while he is painting so his fans can also listen to his art. Georgie gave me a small handout with more information about his artwork that fittingly asked at the bottom, "Would you like to hear a painting?"
I tried my very best to do Georgie's artwork justice and below you can see my attempt at a 360 degree photo of his tent at the arts festival. This was my third and final attempt at the picture, and it is not perfect, but it does give you a little better of a perspective into the work Georgie had on display this weekend. It was hard to keep people from passing by while I was taking the photo or from coming inside the tent (and I don't blame them! His art is magnificent!), but here it is! Until next year, Santa Fe.

University of Florida Gator Horn Studio takes Orlando

Over the weekend, I was able to accompany the University of Florida Gator Horn Studio under the direction of UF horn professor Paul Basler to Orlando for the 10th Annual Florida French Horn Festival. I am close to several of the horn players in the studio at UF, and I was very excited to tag along and see some of the inner workings of the french horn world. This festival took place at the Plaza Live Theatre and attracted over 100 participants from around Florida and even drew in professors from other states. Although I have to admit that I was a little on ease considering the massively heightened security at the theatre following the murder of Christina Grimmie...

Besides that tragically odd coincidence that occurred at the theatre last June, the Florida French Horn Festival turned out to be a successful and safe event. One of my friends from the University of Florida, David LaRussa, 19, reflected on the festival and said there was something particularly special about this year's gathering.

And this camp that David mentioned, Kendall Betts Horn Camp, seemed to be the theme of the day. The organizer of the horn festival, Caroline Blice, dedicated this year's festival to Kendall Betts, a renowned french hornist and founder of the Kendall Betts Horn Camp who passed away at the end of summer 2016 from cancer. I could sense the impact that Kendall Betts had on the great majority of the players in attendance at this festival. Rightfully so, David even said that it was very fitting for Caroline to bring back faculty members that were somehow linked to Kendall Betts.

All faculty members, students and visitors who have attended Kendall Betts Horn Camp in the past gathered for a photo on stage at the Plaza Live Theatre in Orlando.

The tightly-knit network of french horn players was evident even to me, a mere spectator at the festival. The day continued on after a brief introduction by Caroline, and the hornists in attendance were able to participate in guest lectures, masterclasses, horn choir rehearsals and an instrument maintenance breaks throughout the festival. It was a fast-paced day of music and learning, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and trying to absorb as much information as possible.

And of course, the virtuosity of the guest artist Bernhard Scully shined through in his several performances. However, what I liked most about Bernhard was his approachability and realistic teaching style.

Hornist Bernhard Scully performs solo works at the 10th Annual Florida Horn Festival at the Plaza Live Theatre.

Overall, the Florida Horn Festival was a great success and did a fine job honoring the legacy of the late Kendall Betts. I'm glad I was able to be a little fly on the wall that day to get a taste of this slice of the musical world that I otherwise would not have had the opportunity to observe in my lifetime.

Thornebrook Gallery presents new collection featuring artist Laura Adams Wilson

On Friday evening, I went over to Thornebrook Gallery on NW 43rd Street in Gainesville to check out local artist Laura Adams Wilson's new collection. There was a formal "opening" of the gallery that evening, and I was delighted by its relaxed and inviting environment. The event was personal and was kept between a small group of art admirers and friends and family of Laura herself. I might have stuck out just a little bit but I didn't mind! Art is art to all who choose to admire it.

I knew that this art collection was in association with Gainesville's celebration of Cuban heritage that goes from January until the end of March, which is formally called Bulla Cubana, and I was eager to see how Laura's artwork conveyed this theme of celebration. Looking back on my experience with the Gainesville Orchestra for Bulla Cubana certainly added to my excitement over this gallery opening.

Now, I must say Laura's artwork is stunning and so is her vibrant personality! I stole her away from the gallery opening for just a few short minutes to ask her more about her collection, and you can check out that interview and some footage from inside the gallery up at the top of this post! Her attribution of her artwork to her grandmother was pure and heartfelt.

To all who have not yet been to Thornebrook Gallery, now is the perfect time! Laura's collection will be on display until April 1st.

Renowned Israeli violinist Itzhak Perlman comes to the University of Florida

Itzhak Perlman performing on stage at the
Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on
Saturday, March 13th, 2017.

My fangirling has not yet subsided, so please excuse my overbearing excitement in writing this post. I had that absolute pleasure of watching Israeli violinist Itzhak Perlman perform in concert once again this past Saturday night. Perlman came to perform a solo concert at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Gainesville, Florida, with the illustrious piano accompanist Rohan de Silva. And I must say, this duo is nearly unstoppable; their talent is so overwhelming, it is an honor just to be able to watch them perform on stage.

Over five years ago, I saw Itzhak Perlman in concert for the first time at the Sunrise Theatre in Fort Pierce, Florida, and I remember nearly dying from happiness. Okay, surely this is a slight exaggeration, but rightfully so. Perlman's lusciously romantic style and commanding stage presence cannot hardly be matched by any other performing musician. Once I heard that the University of Florida would be bringing him to Gainesville to perform for the many classical music lovers here, I knew instantly that I would be in that audience.

My concert ticket and program from Itzhak Perlman's
performance at the Phillips Center.

Curtesy of Saturday night's program notes, I learned a few more things about Perlman that simply astounded me: Perlman played at President Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony, he played at a State Dinner in 2007 for Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, he has won 16 Grammy Awards for his countless recordings and musical collaborations (P.S. he won the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007), and he has starred on many stages worldwide as one of the reigning violin soloists of this century. Now can you understand my excitement?!

And just as I had assumed it would be, his performance on Saturday night with Rohan de Silva was just as amazing as all of his other performances have been. I brought one of my dear friends along to the show, and he had never heard of Perlman before I mentioned him. I, of course, was very proud of our front row balcony seats, but during the first half of the concert, we both scouted out two empty seats down in the second row of the floor seats, which we dashed down to as soon as intermission began. And I will say, that move was absolutely worth it! From those seats, we could see Perlman's facial expressions and movements that were only a distant blur up in the balcony.

Gushing me with my guest, David LaRussa, in front
of the stage at the Phillips Center.

Besides the awfully nervous page turner on the stage, the performance was near perfection. Perlman's performances of violin sonatas by Vivaldi, Beethoven, Schumann and Ravel were charged with emotion and passion, and his compilation of encore show pieces and Trump jokes were equally as entertaining. I hope I am able to see Itzhak Perlman perform in concert again in the near future, and PLEASE, check out some of his videos on YouTube for yourself. They are well worth watching.

10th annual Gainesville Fine Arts Fair

Over the weekend of Friday March 3rd-Sunday March 5th, the Gainesville Fine Arts Association hosted its annual Fine Arts Fair at Tioga Town Center on Newberry Road. At first, I was a hesitant about what this fair would entail, but I will admit, I was pleasantly surprised by all of the vendors and activities offered to the fair goers. I went to the fair on Sunday and the weather was just perfect for the event.

Gainesville Fine Arts Association hosts its 10th annual Fine Arts Fair at Tioga Town Center #GFAA pic.twitter.com/K8S4D0QsvS

— Amanda Grohowski (@amandagrohowski) March 5, 2017

The kid's zone has inflatables, face painting, and more for the children attending the fair 🎉 pic.twitter.com/dG6ODM8DBr

— Amanda Grohowski (@amandagrohowski) March 5, 2017

Simone, 10, performs for the crowds at the fine arts fair 🎶 #gfaa pic.twitter.com/pSwv5T4xtD

— Amanda Grohowski (@amandagrohowski) March 5, 2017

This little girl was just precious! I was so enthralled by her maturity and her confidence on the stage. Her performance brought me back to me early years of playing out of the Suzuki violin method books (where this piece can be found).

The fair is host to over 125 exhibiting artists and live entertainment for the fair's guests #gfaartsfairtioga pic.twitter.com/8ygOXeeZWN

— Amanda Grohowski (@amandagrohowski) March 5, 2017

Gainesville Photographer Hugo Cruz displays his work at the fine arts fair pic.twitter.com/iuWs2B2tY9

— Amanda Grohowski (@amandagrohowski) March 5, 2017

Lakeland photographer Bill Sargent captures themes of dystopia in his artwork #gfaa pic.twitter.com/EpjmrYdhYy

— Amanda Grohowski (@amandagrohowski) March 5, 2017

Photographs are not the only thing for sale! Gregory Nason is selling cigar box instruments at the fair #gfaa pic.twitter.com/7eawqtbm3J

— Amanda Grohowski (@amandagrohowski) March 5, 2017

Of course, I just had to test out a few of these instruments for myself. I brought along a couple friends to the fair, and we played around on the instruments for a little while.

Restaurant Saboré opens street-side food stand for today's fair goers ☀️ pic.twitter.com/4o0ZAAKkjD

— Amanda Grohowski (@amandagrohowski) March 5, 2017

My nose most definitely led me straight to this vendor. And the food was delicious!! This fair was great for attracting new and future business to the restaurants and stores in the Tioga plaza.

Hot Metal Groove jams at the Gainesville Fine Arts Association Fair 😎🎶 pic.twitter.com/0yqIwG9zv5

— Amanda Grohowski (@amandagrohowski) March 5, 2017

The fine arts fair goes on until 5pm tonight 🎨 #GFAA pic.twitter.com/xOZMiUqe7i

— Amanda Grohowski (@amandagrohowski) March 5, 2017

Overall, this fair was a wonderful collaboration between local artists and musicians. I will be returning next year without fail.

Gainesville Orchestra performs concert Bulla Cubana at Santa Fe College

Over the past week, I had the absolute pleasure of performing as a substitute violinist with the Gainesville Orchestra at Santa Fe College. The Gainesville Orchestra is an incredible group of musicians directed by multi-talented Mr. Evans Haile. Haile has worked as the Producing Artistic Director of the Cape Playhouse Center for the Arts, hosted the NPR show “Talk of the Town,” produced many shows at the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts, and co-founded the New Amsterdam Theatre Company. In short, such big talent on such a small local stage!

The Gainesville Orchestra rehearses in the performing hall at
Santa Fe College on Thursday, February 23, 2017.

The concert’s theme was centered on a mix of Latin music with driving rhythms and insatiable pulses. It was rightfully titled Bulla Cubana. But from my perspective, the most admirable aspect of this concert wasn’t necessarily the music alone – although it was truly wonderful! – but how the music interacted with the performing guest artists and even the audience members. The music was playful and flirty and fit perfectly with the concert hall’s ambience.

RumbaTap dancer Max Pollack rehearses on stage with the
Gainesville Orchestra.

The stars of the evening were the internationally renowned RumbaTap dancer Max Pollack and local artist Eleanor Blair. During the concert, Blair capture the essence of Cuba by live-painting a scenic portrait of Havana. And, in the second half of the program, Pollack emerged to show the audience his innovative style of dance that blends elements of Afro-Cuban music and dance with American rhythmic tap and body music. The outcome: jaw-dropping artistry.

It is safe to assume that no one left that concert hall without a smile from ear-to-ear. Pollack’s dancing was exuberantly cheered, the orchestra’s music was highly praised, and Blair’s painting was sold for $3,000 to the highest bidder in the auction that ended the evening’s events. All I have left to say, is that I can only hope that I am invited to play with orchestra again; it always leaves me in such great spirits. 

University of Florida's school of music suffers from its building's subpar conditions

The School of Music at the University of Florida has battled for decades for improvements to their main building. The music building, or MUB, was constructed in the 1970s as a part of a design competition and was not originally intended to be used as a music building. Because of this, the building does not have proper sound insulation, climate control, or functional uses of space. The building has recently been under construction to fix minor structural issues, but the faculty and students in the music school are still calling for a complete renovation of the building to meet the modern standards for building construction and function.

The music building at the University of Florida is a site of much controversy and debate. Its poor conditions have caused faculty members and students to ask for a complete demolition of the building.

A post shared by @artsinsideandout on Feb 19, 2017 at 10:42pm PST

Since the summer of 2016, the MUB has been under construction. A new roof and partial ceiling enclosure has since been added to the building.

A post shared by @artsinsideandout on Feb 19, 2017 at 10:45pm PST

To abide by safety standards and coding rules, construction crews have installed guard rails on the staircases in the MUB. Faculty members have questioned the effective use of funds for building renovations.

A post shared by @artsinsideandout on Feb 19, 2017 at 10:50pm PST

Music student David LaRussa makes use of one of the added "pod" practice rooms on the second floor of the MUB. Still, there are only 25 practice rooms available for use by the over 400 music students at UF.

A post shared by @artsinsideandout on Feb 19, 2017 at 10:53pm PST

The center atrium area of the MUB has been paved over and made into an additional seating area. This renovation eliminated what was the garden area in the MUB before the ceiling was closed.

A post shared by @artsinsideandout on Feb 19, 2017 at 10:56pm PST

Ariel String Quartet coaches University of Florida musicians in masterclass

Trio of UF students perform the Smetana Piano Trio in
G Minor, Op. 15.

Last week, the renowned Israeli Ariel String Quartet visited the University of Florida, performing at the Phillips Center on February 12^th then hosting a masterclass for UF student chamber musicians the following day. The Ariel String Quartet members, Alexander, Amit, Gershon and Jan, were students at the New England Conservatory of Music but are now resident faculty members at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.

The first chamber ensemble, whose performance I will feature in this review, performed the Smetana Piano Trio in G Minor Op. 15 for the Ariel Quartet, which is a piece that the composer wrote after the death of his child. Fittingly, the trio conveys a harsh yet reflective sense of mourning and grief. Structurally, the work exudes this sense of tragedy through its dynamic extremes and descending chromatic lines.

The UF performing chamber ensemble played the Smetana trio with a vibrant and driving exuberance. The Ariel String Quartet seemed to have agreed for they raved about the trio’s emotional delivery of the music. However, no performance is perfect, so they did have a few critiques to give to the trio of UF students.

Ariel cellist Amit Even-Tov plays UF student's cello to
demonstrate a performance technique.

Ariel violinist Alexandra Kazovsky said to the trio, “Think of the emotional strength of the work, and make it freer.”

Cellist Jan Gruning added to this comment and told the performing violinist and cellist to, “Imitate the usage of breath in your right arm to give the line more direction.”

The trio then repeated certain sections of the work for the Ariel Quartet members and I couldn’t help but smile watching and listening to the immediate improvements in their playing.

“It’s like magic now,” Alexandra said. “It’s so nice, it gives the melody spontaneity.”

Music linked to health and happiness

Time and time again, I have heard the argument, "Music is good for your soul!" But what does that really mean? How can music actually improve a person's health or wellbeing?

I recently found an article that was published by CBS New York that explains the benefits music brings to elderly patients suffering from various cognitive illnesses such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The non-profit Music and Memory uses what they call the healing powers of music to bring the elderly patients back to happier times. According to this article, music was able to significantly improve the mood of the patients. What a simple, yet profound approach to elderly care.

Now, I have witnessed this theory work first-hand. My grandmother suffers from dementia, and her memory is more or less lucid depending on the day. But without any hesitation, she can recognize certain songs and artists from her youth. It only takes a few notes to jog her memory and past associations with the music. To her and many others, music acts as a stress reliever, a facilitator of emotion, and a medium for cognitive recollection.

As stated in the CBS article, one of Music and Memory's goals is to bring music into all 67,000 senior healthcare facilities in the country. This goal is both commendable and logical. Moreover, it is entirely achievable through activism and local engagement. Take initiative. It does not matter whether you or not you are a musician, you can still contribute the musical life in your own local senior homes. Bring speakers; sit with some of the seniors; talk about what music they like and want to listen to. The field of arts and culture is binding, and we must keep it alive.

"Were it not for music, we might in these days say, the Beautiful is dead." -Benjamin Disraeli

Jan van Rooyen

"The true beauty of music is that it connect people. It carries a message, and we, the musicians, are the messengers." -Roy Ayers

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting local violin maker Jan van Rooyen this past summer when I brought my violin into his shop, Gainesville Violins, for some much needed repairs and cleaning. Jan is the kindest man with incomparable patience and sincerity. I was able to get to know him a little more every time I came into his shop, and I soon discovered that there was so much more to him than most people knew. He so fortunately sat down with me one afternoon to answer what seemed like my million questions I had for him. I wanted to know how he started playing, where he learned to make violins, and what brought him to the states, since he spent the great majority of his life in South Africa. I am simply humbled that he let me capture a little fragment of his life's story. Please listen for yourself.

Hi everyone! My name is Amanda Grohowski and I am junior at the University of Florida double-majoring in Telecommunication News and Music Performance. To give you a little bit of background info on me, I have been playing the violin since I was five years old, and I am absolutely drawn to the stage. I love performing so much that I found another way to do it… through reporting and public speaking! I currently work as an associate producer at the Gainesville’s local ABC affiliate station WCJB TV-20 and as a multimedia journalist for WUFT News and its affiliate NPR station WUFT-FM 89.1. I am also a very strong travel and fitness advocate, so hopefully my future career will be able to satisfy all of my passions and wanderlust.

In saying that, this blog will hopefully become my gateway to merge my two main passions of music and storytelling in the field of arts media. Since I am still working to finish my undergraduate degree at UF, I have made Gainesville my temporary home! I have tried to get involved in the arts and culture community in Gainesville as much as possible, and I have done everything from reporting on the local arts scene to performing in the local arts scene. I have developed a keen appreciation for arts and culture because I have first handedly experienced how much effort it takes be successful in that industry. So, I want to share some of that with you!

I will be posting on this blog about Gainesville’s local arts and culture scene, from the inside and out. I will tell you what it takes to put together a musical performance, describe upcoming events, and critique performances in the Gainesville area! I am very much looking to share with you this little splice of Gainesville.

And if you’re interested in learning about more about me or my work, feel free to check out my website at any time! I will do my best to keep it update with my latest writings and performances.