Music has always been a part of my life. I started singing in church choir at age four and have been singing ever since. Singing always came naturally to me and has filled my life with so much joy. The deeper I dove into the art of choral music, the more it became part of who I am. I don’t think I could describe myself without including my love for choir.

What I value most about choir is the experience we create together. Singing in a choir is one of the greatest things we can do as human beings. The fact that we get to take dots on a piece of paper and turn them into something that people can hear and feel is one of the greatest gifts of my life. When we sing together, even our bodies can begin to sync. I can’t think of a better metaphor for what happens in a choir.

Choir is so much more than singing the right notes and performing. It’s about the connections we make as individuals to create something larger than ourselves. We share something personal, emotional, and sometimes even spiritual. The meaning of what we do isn’t found only in the songs we sing. It’s what we create together that gives those songs meaning. I care deeply about musical excellence and being authentic to a composer’s intent, but the people always come first. The music matters because the people making it matter.

“The fact that we get to take dots on a piece of paper and turn them into something that people can hear and feel is one of the greatest gifts of my life.”

What first drew me to Sounds Good was its focus on healthy aging through music. I have always been fascinated by the connection between music, the brain, memory, and well-being. Sounds Good brought together something I have believed for a long time: singing should be a lifelong activity. After more than 20 years in education, I saw Sounds Good as a place where I could continue doing what I love most: making music with people.

Sounds Good really clicked for me when I attended my first Summer Rocks concerts. The joy I saw from the singers was palpable. The fun, fellowship, community, and connections between singers were impossible to miss. That was when I realized what Sounds Good was really about. There are few things more joyful or fulfilling to me than a group of people singing together simply because they love to sing.

“Sounds Good brought together something I have believed for a long time: singing should be a lifelong activity.”

As Artistic Director, I hope to bring high musical standards while continuing to make meaningful music together. I want to challenge our singers without ever losing the joy that brings us into the room in the first place. I want to preserve what already makes Sounds Good special while finding new opportunities for us to grow. Most importantly, I want us to make the best music we can without ever forgetting why we came together to make it.

Outside of Sounds Good, I’m first and foremost a husband and father. I married my wife, Karen, in 2015, and we have two children: Mason, 5, and Lily, 4. Mason just began kindergarten and Lily is in Pre-K, so the chaos of having two young children 18 months apart is both a joy and a challenge. I love spending time with friends and family, and those relationships are the most sacred in my life.

I’m an avid hunter and fisherman. The more time I can spend outdoors and in nature, the better. I’m a huge Cubs fan, and the only thing I can compare to the joy of being in a choir is walking up the ramp at Wrigley Field and seeing that field on a beautiful summer day.

I’m also a huge musical theater nerd and spend some of my time directing productions at Elgin Community College. Another musical endeavor of mine is an organization called Beer Choir. If you like beer and you like singing, you’ll love Beer Choir. It isn’t your traditional choir. If you show up to a Beer Choir event, you ARE the choir!

I’ve spent most of my life singing in a choir, and after all these years, I still love it. There is something remarkable about a room full of individuals breathing together, listening to one another, and eventually becoming one ensemble. That connection is what has kept me singing all these years, and it’s what makes me so excited to begin this next chapter with Sounds Good. There are few things in life better than making music together.