It all began with Saturday morning piano lessons and midnight mysteries.
Most recently, I’ve become the creator of Carillon Explorations on YouTube, but I’ve been a writer, editor, and musician for most of my life.
As a kid, I was always singing little songs and writing down my observations — and getting social backlash for correcting other kids’ language.
I took refuge in books, reading Trixie Belden mystery novels one ofter the other long after bedtime was announced. The characters became my friends, and their triumphs and troubles taught me valuable lessons about life.
As I grew up, I learned more about communication: how to reach people where they are, what makes writing interesting, and how much there is to discover about the cultures that we share.
I pursued education in English literature, getting a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago and a master’s from Indiana University. Later, I dived into the news business, earning another master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
I’ve been a newspaper reporter, a freelancer, and a copy editor and producer for an online news service. Most recently, I’ve been writing about classical music on the web.
For me, writing is about more than sharing information; it’s a way of transmitting to others the way a human observer sees the world. When I write, that’s what I’m giving people. When I edit others’ work, I’m clarifying and brightening their vision and their stories.
Music has played a parallel role in my life, providing a portal into new communities and a way to connect with others that goes beyond words. While I grew up playing the piano, it started out as a pursuit for myself alone, providing hours of enjoyment in company with Mozart and Brahms.
Later, I took up singing, first by joining choirs in college and then by pursuing voice lessons as a soloist. I was fascinated by the way poetry and music are interwoven in song, making both into something stirring and profound.
And on a chilly night at the University of Chicago, I had my first close encounter with the carillon, climbing the tower as part of a tour.
The idea of performing intricate music on enormous bronze bells fascinated me, and I immediately asked for lessons. As I gained skill in carillon playing, I relished the role of the invisible performer in a high tower.
But that’s not where the journey ends. Music and writing are both about conveying messages between human beings. Since enrolling at the Royal Carillon School “Jef Denyn” in Mechelen, I’ve learned a great deal about how the bells speak to the people outside the carillon chamber.
I’m no longer a figure far removed from the public. Instead, I seek to connect with audiences through the music I make, and to encourage people to notice the melodies floating on the air.