I was trained at the Interlochen Arts Academy by David Holland, spent a year at the University of Evansville studying viola with Joel Lipton and pedagogy with Carol Dallinger,  later received a Bachelor of Music and a minor in German from the University of Wisconsin after study with Joseph Hawthorne and Diane Balko. 

Next came a Master of Music diploma in Performance with a minor in Music Theory from the Manhattan School of Music, where I studied viola and chamber music with the renowned Lillian Fuchs. During grad school, I lived in the brownstone owned by violinist Carroll Glenn and pianist Eugene List, and heard their nonstop practicing and teaching drifting throughout the house.  Miss Glenn even included me in a series of quartet performances at that time.

I received one more degree at the University of Iowa as the Research Assistant to William Preucil Sr., studying performance and pedagogy.  Notable orchestra conductor-teachers were Byron Hanson at IAA and James Dixon at Iowa.

My non-degree study has included Suzuki and Rolland teacher training, baroque workshops on viola, violin, viola da gamba, fiddle, and historical dance, and languages - principally Italian, Latin and Spanish.