There was an exact moment when I realized I wanted to be a musician for the rest of my life. I remember that I was 12-years-old and goosebumps went over my arms. It was the feeling of power when playing full blast; it was the experience of leading hundreds of people in congregational singing; and it was my first organ teacher, Mr. J. His full name was Jaskulski , but everybody called him Mr. J.

I wanted to be in band in middle school, so my mom made me take piano lessons first. This was so I could learn to read music before I started playing the baritone horn. I enjoyed piano lessons and had a good teacher who taught me music theory from the very beginning. Then came Mr. J.

He was the new music director at my church when I started 7th grade. It didn’t take long for him to energize and grow the music program. The number of students involved in choirs doubled in less than a year. He was an advocate for the organ, and had a new organ fundraised, built, and dedicated within 2 years. When word spread that he was starting an organ scholar program at the church, I wanted to audition since I had already been playing piano for 2 years. He offered free lessons and gave me the early experience of playing hymns and service music during worship. He wanted to keep the tradition of organ playing alive.

Over the next two years, I made exponential progress. I went to my first organ recital, I remember the performer was Hector Olivera. I was blown away by the level of playing. I knew there was something to aspire to. I spent hours learning about organs and organ building. I began to write my own music. I scoured youtube for all the best performances. When I visited family in Philadephia, I went to the Wanamaker Organ in Macy’s and even played the world’s largest organ! During this time I continued piano lessons and playing in the band. I also took up voice lessons with the choir director at my middle school.

My mom and I become good family friends with Mr. J, Mrs. J, and kids. I remember spending evenings eating pizza and listening to organ music at his house. Sadly, that all changed when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He continued to teach lessons in between his chemotherapy treatments. Sometimes he would cry because he was in pain. It meant so much to me to see someone with that kind of dedication and love for music. He passed away on Ash Wednesday of 2010.

I was determined to pay forward the love of music that he had instilled me. After attending a local Catholic High School for one year, I transferred to the Interlochen Arts Academy to study organ with Tom Bara. Interlochen changed the way I thought about music and the arts. It is a very special place that brings artists from around the world to study music, visual art, creative writing, theater, film-making, and dance. It was here in the pined woods of northern Michigan that I was introduced to the Anglican organ and choral tradition. Before Tom Bara became the organ instructor at Interlochen, he was the assistant organist at St. Thomas Church on 5th Avenue. He was equal parts role model and teacher to me.

After Interlochen, I was fortunate to be able to study with Todd Wilson at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He is also Director of Music at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and Organist for The Cleveland Orchestra. I also interned with Dan Fortune at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Akron, Ohio. I hold Dan responsible for teaching me how to accompany a choir and execute crescendos and decrescendos like a proper Anglican. During my time in Cleveland, I also served as Music Director at St. James’ Anglican Catholic Church. I directed the choir and took part in the intense liturgical planning that was required at St. James.

After graduating from the Cleveland Institute of Music, I moved to Charlotte, NC. I began my work as Assistant Organist-Choirmaster at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and Assistant Director of The Choir School at St. Peter’s. I graduated on May 19th and had my first day on May 21st!

When I look back at my beginnings as a musician, I am extremely grateful for the excellent teaching and mentorship I had. My life has been permanently changed because of music and I wouldn’t change a thing. In the future, I hope to share my love of music with a new generation of students.

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