Awards & Media

May 2020

May 17, 2020 Daily Progress, "Therapeutic Musician Releases songbook to lift spirits." Article about my latest project can be seen at this link: Daily Progress Article

If you are unable to read this article online (due to subscription preferences) You can read the article on my google drive.


May 27, 2020  C'Ville Weekly Article, "Finding Solace" 




July 2016

I presented at the World Hearing Center just outside of Warsaw, Poland as part of the Beats of Cochlea festival. It was quite an honor! 




July 2016

I participated as a finalist in the Beats of Cochlea festival in Warsaw, Poland. This is a festival for musicians with cochlear implants from all over the world. It was quite an event! 




May 2014  

I was given the Mildred Spicer Arts Award for enhancing the lives of people with disabilities. Here is the article in the Daily Progress about it:

Mildred Spicer Award for Enriching lives of those with disabilities

June 2014



In 1992 I bought an Ovation guitar from Dave Matthews.  In October of 2014, I approached the Music Resource Center in Charlottesville to see about donating this guitar to be sold in an online auction to benefit the MRC. This guitar went on to be sold for $41,000 to benefit the MRC. As a child, I got my start in the arts in a neighborhood recreation center in Chicago. I wanted to find a way to pay that forward and benefit young people to pursue their music dreams. That was a good time in my life to be a part of that. 
Here is the article in the Daily Progress about that:

Dave Matthews Ovation guitar