My musical experience began with piano at age 6, which lasted for two frustrating years. I took up cornet at age 10 and switched to French horn in eighth grade. I played baritone in Barberton (Ohio) High School’s all-brass marching band, continuing with horn in concert season. Trombone was added so that I could play in the jazz band, which led to two years with a Tijuana Brass-style band called the Girl Watchers.

After high school, I played baritone for the Symphonic Band and the All American Marching Band at Purdue University, traveling with that organization to Expo 70 in Osaka, Japan. I studied engineering at Purdue, which does not have a school of music. After 25 years, I returned to Purdue for the Alumni Band at Homecoming, and shortly thereafter was invited to play with the OPBB and its conductor Franklin Dow.

I started with OPBB in 1999 and became their MC in 2004.