The Summer of 2005 has been a blast.

I received a scholarship to Brevard Music Camp and spent seven weeks of the summer sharpening my skills.

This school year I start high school on the "Hunter Scholarship" at Ravenscroft.

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I started playing the drums when I was four and half years old on a "Mickey Mouse" drum set that Santa brought for Christmas.

At eight years old I auditioned for the Triangle Youth Philharmonic (TYP) and was awarded the chair of principal percussionist for the Triangle Youth Symphony (TYS).

TYP is the umbrella organization for three orchestras that are guided by Hugh Partridge, The North Carolina Symphony.

Later that same year I participated in a talent competition and garnered the title of Young Musician of the Year, Carolina Parent Magazine.

My first year with TYS we traveled to Hull, England, our sister city, to perform for the 200th anniversary of the end to slavery in England. One of the most memorable pieces performed was the Lincoln Portrait by Elgar.

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Kingston upon Hull Orchestra (more photos from Hull)

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I am now 12 years old and in my fourth season as percussionist with the Philharmonic Association and second season as trumpet.

The percussion instruments I play are tympani, vibraphone, marimba, xylophone, bells, cymbals, triangle, tabla, jembe, tambourine, and snare as well as a full drum kit with double bass in addition to congas and timbales.

I regularly attend the percussion seminar at The North Carolina School of the Arts with John Beck.

As you see in the photo, above left, I also play the trumpet and cornet. I started playing trumpet with the school band in October 2000. At the end of year concert I performed with the band, in the quartet, and as the premier soloist. I was honored with an award for "Most Accomplished Musician".

In Spring 2002 the Triangle Youth Orchestra performed at the BTI Center for the Performing Arts, Meymandi Hall pictured below.

Later that year I had the opportuniy to audition and win second chair in North Carolina All District Competition with the help and guidance of Don Martin and Tim Stuart.

Mr. Martin crowned me his prodigy and invited me to play with his high school band and travel to Ireland. We performed wind ensemble and orchestra music at an Easter Sunday Mass with the Mullingar Town Band, played jazz in pubs at night, and traveled from Dublin to Shannon. It was more fun and hard work than could be imagined. We visited Blarney Castle and kissed the Blarney Stone, went to Rock Castle and saw St. Patrick's cross, walked along the Cliffs of Moher, and climbed Crough Patrick mountain (above) where St. Patrick got the vision to drive out the snakes from Ireland.

Tim Stewart, my trumpet instructor, is Associate principal, the North Carolina Symphony.

In the fall of 2002 I was awarded two chairs with the Philharmonic Association, first chair trumpet with Triangle Youth Symphony, and Associate Principal Percussionist with Triangle Youth Philharmonic.

My percussion instructor is Rick Motylinski, Principal Percussionist of the North Carolina Symphony

Fall 2003, I decided to cut back and play only with the Triangle Youth Philharmonic for percussion so I could persue other venues for trumpet. That fall I started to play coronet for an British style brass band, Triangle Youth Brass Band (TYBB), under the baton of Tony Granados. After making the decision to add another orchestra to my plate as well as playing in the school band and at church (percussion and trumpet) I was invited to play with St. Marks Methodist Church Orchestra on trumpet. I regularly play percussion and trumpet at my church, St. Francis of Assisi, and often play solo trumpet for weddings in the Raleigh, NC area.

Last fall I won first chair in North Carolina All County and All District and I am did well in All State placing 4th with a broken valve.

In my spare time I referee ice hockey.