Music History:

I initially planned to play the trumpet, but for reasons I can’t recall (hey, it was 45 years ago!) I decided at the last possible moment to switch to the clarinet. I began playing during the third grade in Oakland, California, and continued in concert bands and music camps through high school. I even played clarinet in my high school's jazz band (where I also was the pianist) when they were desperate for a soloist. I then played in the concert band for a few semesters during college (University of California at Davis), mainly to inflate my grade point average with some easy "A"s.

I put my clarinet in deep storage until 2006, when I happened to mention to Shirley Alexander (my then neighbor) that I used to play. After Shirley pummeled me with late night phone calls, threatening letters, and endless lawsuits (O.K., maybe that’s a slight exaggeration), I decided to give Town North Concert Band a try. I’m very glad that I did.