Bringing Music Education to schools nationwide.

Music has been the one place in my life where I’ve always had permission to tell the truth. It gave me language for feelings I didn’t know how to name, and it gave me a way to turn pain, joy, faith, and confusion into something I could share instead of carrying alone.

It’s also shaped the biggest decisions I’ve ever made. I left a stable corporate path, moved to Norway to study music production, and poured my time and money into learning how to create the sound in my head. That choice wasn’t comfortable, but it taught me agency. Every milestone since, being on The Voice, winning the American Songwriter contest, performing at SXSW, has been a reminder that dreams get closer when you keep choosing the uncomfortable path.

But the impact that matters most to me is paying it forward. One of my favorite moments was bringing my high school choir to sing with me, because it felt like closing a loop and opening a door at the same time. I want young people to have access to music early, not only as a skill, but as a place to belong, to be heard, and to build confidence. That’s why I care about restoring music education. It changes lives, and I want to be part of making sure more students get that chance.

I’m a full-time singer/songwriter based in Chicago, and I’m incredibly grateful I had music in my school growing up. It played a huge role in shaping who I am today and inspired me to pursue this as a career.

Incredible music teachers throughout my life inspired me to major in music education and music therapy, spend five years teaching K-5 vocal music in Ankeny, Iowa, and ultimately pursue a music career as a songwriter and recording artist in Nashville – where I also had the chance to make my dream record with my dream producer and team (here’s a good link: https://s.disco.ac/baqktccrjfoe).

Along the way, I’ve opened for AJR in front of 5,000 people on just two hours’ notice (TV interview here), became a KoAloha Ukulele artist, and was named a semifinalist in both the American Songwriter Road Ready Talent Contest and the International Songwriting Competition.

It’s essential that schools continue to invest in music programs for future generations. The spark in a student’s eyes after learning their first ukulele chord, the joy of singing and moving together, the courage it takes to perform for the first time – those moments stay with them, and as both a teacher and performer, it means so much to pass on the same inspiration music gave me growing up!

This grant would help me continue that work as both a performer and musician, while also supporting music education in our schools. Thank you for everything you do for artists and music programs!

When I was a little kid, I used to listen to music and show my grandparents how I could hear every instrument, layer, and element of a song. They saw something in me and signed me up for piano lessons when I was nine. A couple years later, I saved up to purchase my first computer along with a small MIDI controller and a free DAW. I started shaping my future and setting myself on a path toward a creative life.

I’ve been producing music since I was 12, and to this day I don’t have a single piece of published music. Even though I had the creativity and skill to make emotional tracks, fear held me back. Over the past couple of years, I’ve really dug deep into my craft, working to lock in my sound and create something the world can finally hear.

When I heard about this contest, I knew I had to enter because it perfectly aligns with how I see music, as something that connects, inspires, and gives voice. For me, this is a step toward finally sharing a part of myself that I’ve held onto for years.

Music has always been a huge part of my life. Growing up, my mom often blasted Christian music, classical melodies, or (her personal favorite) Michael Jackson. We sang in the house, in the car, at church and school and she encouraged us to play instruments, leading me to learn both piano and clarinet.

There were times we even turned ordinary moments into songs— little jingles about going home or caffeine-free soda. These moments helped shaped me into who I am. They taught me that music isn’t reserved for stages or spotlights, it lives in the everyday giving meaning to even the smallest experiences.

As I grew, so did my curiosity. I found pieces of myself in every genre I encountered — indie, rock, Broadway, gospel, and R&B. Each genre adding a new color to my voice. Today, my music carries those layers: playful, reflective, soulful, and rooted in faith.
Now, as a teacher and worship leader, I get to see music’s impact unfold in real time. I watch my students find confidence in their voices. I witness rooms full of people with different backgrounds and different stories become united through a single song.

Music has shown me that we are more alike than we think. It gives voice to our feelings of love, joy, grief, and hope. And in those shared moments, it reminds us that we are not alone—and that maybe, while rooted in our humanity, we can work together to build a better world.