More About Me!

Raised in the small town of Ephraim, Utah, my musical path started at age six with piano lessons, followed by the clarinet in sixth grade. At the time, my middle school had a strict rule: no switching to saxophone until seventh grade. Being a bit impatient (and convinced I was too cool for the rules), I managed to make the switch halfway through sixth grade.

I had my heart set on the tenor saxophone, but when my mom finally handed me my uncle’s old case, I realized with a bit of disappointment that it was an old beater Conn Shooting Star alto. It wasn't the tenor I dreamed of, but it was a saxophone, and I was hooked. By eighth grade, I had saved up every penny from my newspaper route to buy my first real instrument: a Cannonball Alcazar alto.

In High School I participated in many groups including Jazz Band, Show Choir, Pit Orchestra, and I was part of the Utah Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra for a few years. I was the Music Sterling Scholar for my school, and I was awarded the Louis Armstrong Award. Following graduation, I took a two-year hiatus from music and school to serve a mission in southern Argentina. 

I then studied at the Horne School of Music at Snow College and received my Bachelor of Music with an Emphasis in Commercial music. I initially started my studies to become an Educator, but found a passion for production and technology. I studied classical saxophone under Timothy Kidder, and Jazz Sax with Chase Baird. I was finally able to switch over to Tenor my final year of school, and we competed and won in the Big Band and Combo divisions at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival.

Over the years, I’ve had the chance to perform with the alternative group Sentimentalism and, in 2022, I founded The Sanpete Jazz Messengers, a group that blends jazz, classic rock, and country. Today, you can find me performing across the region with the Diamond Empire wedding band and my new funk outfit, Pet Friendly.

Currently, I work as an AV Technician for the Jordan School District and spend my spare hours immersed in sound design and practicing the sax. My goal is to eventually take my skills to Los Angeles to work in the film industry, continuing to grow as both a musician and sound designer.

None of this would be possible without my wife, Emmy. We met in our first-year Jazz Combo at Snow College and have been making music together ever since. Emily is a brilliant jazz pianist who has supported my dreams every step of the way—from helping me with grueling homework assignments to gigging by my side.

Some of my favorite memories are from our Friday nights playing at Grandma Berta’s in Manti. Even when the room wasn't full, seeing a few people get up to dance to our ballads made every note worth it. She is a huge part of this journey, and I’m incredibly lucky to have her as my partner in music and in life.