I was raised as a second-generation AFM member – my father, a cellist, is a long-time Local 47 member. My earliest memories are of a family household filled with the joy and excellence of music. We were also raised with a commitment to social justice, inclusion, and political engagement. These strands came together when I returned to my hometown of Los Angeles after graduating from the Peabody Conservatory and working in the Mexico City Philharmonic.
Working as a free-lance violinist then meant lots of weddings, parties, teaching, playing with a variety of orchestras in the LA area, and performing with my string quartet, slowly getting more and more calls for studio work, but always remaining a musical omnivore.
My playing life brought me into the studios, playing on records from Frank SInatra and Barbra Streisand up to the present, performing on TV shows going back to Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, Empire and others. I have played on film scores for Randy Newman, John Williams, Danny Elfman, Terence Blanchard, Shirley Walker, and countless others. For over 25 years I was a tenured member of the first violin section of the Pasadena Symphony (a ROPA orchestra) and subbed with almost every orchestra in the LA area.
As my career grew, the significance of our union became clearer and grew on me. The contracts I worked under, and the benefits contributed, allowed me to aspire to financial stability, and being part of our union gave me a real sense of belonging and community. I began participating more and more with my Local, and with the Recording Musicians Association, contributing in a variety of ways. I served on our Local 47 Hearing Board for over 20 years, participated in contract campaigns and the occasional picket line, as well as multiple legislative campaigns. At each point along the way the power of coalition was key, working together with common purpose between rank-and-file musicians, our Local, AFM leadership, labor movement, community and elected officials.
After years of committee work, participation in countless AFM Conventions, Locals Conferences and Player Conferences, it was my honor to be elected Vice President in 2021, and was elected President of Local 47 at the end of 2025. I also serve as a Vice President of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor (the AFL-CIO in LA) and as an AFM participant in the Entertainment Union Coalition and as an alternate Trustee of the AFM&SAG-AFTRA IPRDF..
Our AFM is headed in great directions, focusing on organizing, building power and growth. I look forward to bringing the full range of my commitment, knowledge and experience to in support of the progress and growth of our American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada.
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