Early Life
I began playing piano in 1995 when I was six years old. Upon turning 12, I switched to drum set. I took weekly one-on-one drum set lessons from talented Berklee College of Music graduate Lou Lacava through high school. While working with him I established a solid understanding of the drum set. During my high school years, I started my own jam band called The Dancing Head Orchestra.
Undergraduate Adventures
In 2011, I was accepted to the music program at the University of Colorado Denver. I studied for five years with Afro-Cuban percussionist Thomas VanSchoick. VanSchoick studied for many years under world renown Afro-Cuban percussionist Michael Spiro (David Byrne, Cachao, Ella Fitzgerald, Santana). He taught me how to play congas, timbales, bongo, batá, shekeré, and auxiliary Afro-Cuban percussion. Moreover, I studied Afro-Cuban percussion and jazz drum set with Dr. Pete Ellingson and Todd Reid. I graduated in the spring of 2016 receiving my Bachelor of Science in Music degree (double major in Afro-Cuban Percussion and Recording Arts).
Post Graduation
After graduation, I stayed in Colorado for five years. I taught drum set and piano lessons and performed and toured with a variety of bands. In August 2021, I moved back to Massachusetts pursuing my masters degree. Fast forward two years to August 2023, I graduated from Boston University with a 4.0 GPA and a Master’s Degree in Music Education. In September 2024, I began a professorship at Worcester State University. I currently teach African drumming ensembles, one-on-one Afro-Cuban percussion lessons, and digital music creation classes.
My Teachers
Throughout my career I have worked with:
- John “Dandy” Rodríguez Jr. (Ray Barretto, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Fania All-Stars, Típica 73)
- Johnny Conga (Santana, Eddie Palmieri, Paquito D’Riviera, The Jackson 5, Gloria Gaynor)
- Walfredo “Wally” Reyes Jr. (Chicago, Gloria Estefan, Santana, Steve Winwood)
- Calixto Oviedo (Pacho Alonso, Ray Barretto, NG La Banda, Arturo Sandoval)
- Michael Spiro (Seven-time Grammy Winner, David Byrne, Cachao, Ella Fitzgerald, Santana)
- Ruben Alvarez (Grammy Winner, Lion King)
- Dorothea Taylor a.k.a. The Godmother of Drumming (Drumeo Coach)
- Allison Miller (Brandi Carlile, Ani DiFranco, Natalie Marchant)
- Gregory Garrison (Two-time Grammy nominee, Punch Brothers, Leftover Salmon, Chris Thile)
- Chris Daniels (Chris Daniels and the Kings, Colorado Music Hall of Fame)
- Peter Stoltzman (Steve Gadd, Eddie Gomez, Deantoni Parks)
- Dr. Pete Ellingson (Luís Conte, Jerry González, Michael Spiro, Wayne Wallace)
- Paul Musso (Colorado Symphony)
Performance Life
Throughout my career I have performed with Todd Rundgren, Members of The Temptations, Members of The String Cheese Incident, Members of Matchbox 20, Members of Leftover Salmon, Members of The 8-Bit Big Band, Members of Lettuce, Members of Orgone, Members of Flobots, Lotus, Anomalie, Late Night Radio, Axel Thesleff, Boombox, Brasstracks, Emancipator, Dirt Monkey, and many more.
Life on the Road
I have toured different regions of the United States multiple times and played music in Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Wisconsin, Vermont, and Virginia. Additionally, I have performed at Sonic Bloom Music Festival, Arise Music Festival, Infrasound Music Festival, and more.