Music is and has always been an organic part of my identity, and I have found that creating music is a natural and necessary extension of that. I work primarily with our first and most versatile instrument: the voice. My artistic philosophy is rooted in the melding of text and music, articulation and expression. The words must express the music and the music must in turn express the words in order for it to be complete. My unique gifts of being a professional singer, instrumentalist, conductor, and an amateur poet intertwine in my compositions. I challenge myself to be open to the music that comes to me without judging or editing it right away. I find that the result stays closer to the core of my creative voice and shapes my evolving style. Last, and perhaps most important, . . .