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Member since? 

June 2016

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How did you hear about/find us? 

I was heading to our weekly continuing education class and saw a flyer in Volker Hall. I took a photo of said poster and emailed Stacey during class (note: we are not supposed to use our phone during class). 

 

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What is your musical background/history? 

• My dad loved music so there was always a record player or the radio playing music in the house. My older cousin had all the groovy records like Jesus Christ Super Star and Fleetwood Mac. My younger cousin and I used to sneak into her room to listen and dance on her bed. 

• Started out on bells and pianica around age 7. My AMAZING music teacher, Mr. Washington played all sorts of music from Rock and Roll to classical in the classroom and he introduced me to my favorite music genre….. OPERA!!!! 

• Played Flute at Mowat Junior High School where our fight song was The Horse (we should be playing this in CCB). We actually marched at the Junior High Home Football games. I was a super shy kid but Gordon King, the band director not only taught me to play flute but how to kick ass in the flute section. Added Piccolo and Oboe in High School. 

• Loved marching band even though my uniforms were always 3 sizes too big. Once I fell on the field and my uniform was so large that I couldn’t get up. Of course there’s a video of that somewhere. I started playing Oboe in the 11th grade, and my mom would leave the house telling me to call her when the duck was dead. Was a student conductor in High School and Community College. 

• While in High School I played in several orchestras around town and continued to play into Junior College. Biggest regret is that I didn’t continue through college. 

• While at Gulf Coast Community College, I studied voice and Opera for a year. I sang with the Jazz Band (I sucked at Saxophone and didn’t want to quit the band). Mostly standards like the song from Casablanca. 

• Sang in a heavy metal band in college after losing a bet. 

• Played in a community band in Montgomery. 

 

 

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What is your favorite “Band Song” to play? 

I love marches!!! Washington Post is so fun to play, but I have to say, I really like SMOOTH!!! 

 

 

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What do you do when you are not playing music? (work/hobbies/for fun???)

• I work in the Animal Resources Program at UAB as an animal behaviorist.

• Diligently working on a Master’s Degree in Peace Studies and Human Rights in the Anthropology Department. All I have left is a thesis to write. 

• I have 4 dogs (2 Japanese Chin and 2 Hairless Chinese Cresteds), a sweet 13 year old calico cat, and a 45-year-old Amazon parrot. 

• I usually have at least one naked foster dog, as I am involved in a rescue organization called Naked K-9 and small dog rescue. 

• Am a member of the North American Jane Austen Society. 

• Obsessed with Ireland and all things Irish. 

• Extremely political. 

• Often called geek due to my love for scifi particularly Dr. Who. I go to Dragon Con every year in Atlanta.

• I like to sew when I have time and make Historic (mainly Victorian) clothing. 

 

 

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What type of animal/breed of dog/cat/bird/fish/other etc…. best reflects your personality and why? 

Gibbon (smallest member of the ape family): I am often overlooked in crowds and love to sing. 

 

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Tell us something fun!  You know, like “That one time at band camp…” Or elsewhere.  (funny anecdote/story/amazing coincidence/hidden talent/celebrity encounter, etc…) 

• Malcolm McDowell grabbed my butt and my friend caught it on camera. That was a great FB profile pic. 

• A friend and I once dressed as Belle and Beast and did the big Beauty and the Beast dance scene at Boo at the Zoo. For clarification…. I was Belle. 

• Worked for a catering service at FSU and was complimented by Kurt Vonnegut for my Pate. 

• Once owned 8 carnivorous lizards 3 of which were more than 3 feet long.

• Was a zookeeper for 15 years so I know a lot of silly animal facts. 

• So obsessed with opera, that I went to NYC just to see my favorite German Opera singer in recital. 

• I met and participated in a master class taught by James Galway!