Hometown: Eastford, CT
Currently Living in: Brooklyn, CT
WA Class of: 1989
Best WA Memory: Too many to list here, but some highlights for me were the Music Dept. events, Arts Weekend, participating in All-State and All-Eastern Division festivals, and helping to win the QVC championship with the tennis team.
Favorite Teacher: 2 Bobs: Beckwith (Music) and Derrico (P.E.). Beckwith gave me all the musical opportunities I could handle, and the encouragement to audition for college. Derrico opened my ears to a world of electric bass players that shaped my playing in ways I didn't fully realize until well into my adult career.
After Graduation: I attended UConn for 5 years for Music Education, taught Music K-6 in Lyme/Old Lyme, then took a break to focus more on playing music fulltime as a professional bassist and private teacher. My wife and I bought a house in Manchester and lived there for 17 years where we started our family. I was hired by The Woodstock Academy to teach General Music in 2010 and am teaching Guitar classes and Music Technology & Production classes now.
Today: I’m raising 3 teenage children and 2 cats with my wife, enjoying our (fairly new) home in Brooklyn, playing as many gigs as I can reasonably fit into my fulltime teaching schedule, and feeling grateful for all of the musical relationships I've built over my career with wonderful people who have become dear friends and family to me.
WA Takeaways: Participation in as many different types of activities as possible will help you find your "calling” if you open your mind to trying new things. It is also a great way to make friends in and among all different types of groups.
Advice for Future Centaurs: I fully believe that WA is an amazing school with so many different opportunities. The course selections are varied, the facilities are top-notch, and most of all, the faculty/staff really want to help young people be the best they can be.
