Biography:

I’m not sure how exactly I first became interested in playing the accordion, but I know that my grandparents brought me to the Cotati Accordion Festival when I was at a very young age. Out of the blue, sometime when I was six years old, I remember walking up to my mother and asking her if I could get accordion lessons. I began lessons with a very old Italian man named Guido Canevari. Due to his age (about 88 years old) almost his entire repertoire was from the 20s, 30s, and 40s. Being six years old, I didn’t have much preference in music anyway.

When I reached nine years old, I started working my first job. My task was to play my accordion in the entryway of a small coffee shop and entertain customers as they passed through. Though I was playing solely for tips, and, at most, I may have come home with ten dollars, this job helped me define myself. I realized that I had a passion for leaving an effect on people, even if I didn’t know them.

I took lessons with Mr. Canevari until he passed away and I learned near 100 songs. After his death, I moved onto another teacher who happened to be one of his friends. Eddie Paul was also of age and continued to expand my antique repertoire. Unfortunately, he passed away also. After about a year of idle, I found the teacher I have had now for about five years.

Ken Chambers, though much younger than my previous teachers not only encouraged my playing of music from their eras, but also of many different styles including: Ethnic French, Italian, and German, Classical, and even some Pop. With time, I developed a taste for Frank Sinatra and many other singers in his time period such as Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, Mel Torme, and Nat King Cole. Ken helped me compose these songs into something I could actually play, and he helped me integrate my singing into my performance. Ken also helped me develop as a pianist.

At 12 years old, I began working at an Italian Restaurant in Railroad Square called Mama Donnas. In my five years of working there, I developed more as a musician and performer than any other time in my life. My name and reputation began to spread and soon I was performing all over Sonoma County.

After the closing of Mama Donna’s restaurant in Railroad Square, I moved to Ristorante Capri, also in Railroad Square. I played there on weekends over the course of about four years, until its closing in 2005.

I have had involvement in many other musical ventures besides. I have been in the Piner High School Show Choir and Concert Choir for 4 years, sung in the Sonoma County Honor Choir, played Piano in the school Jazz band and participated in many other musical projects such as the Santa Rosa Repertory Theater.

Now, at 22 years old, I am available for hire for most occasions. I am frequently hired to play at wineries for various venues as well as private performances such as birthday parties, and anniversaries. I can also be seen at various Farmers’ Markets in Sonoma County.