I love working with musicians.
I’m fascinated with creative problem solving, with finding new ways to help people like you overcome the obstacles that have blocked your path to artistry.

Earlier in my career I directed entrepreneurship and career offices at Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, and Indiana University, working with students and alumni, both emerging artists and accomplished professionals.

The Need
Because there was no single source for real-world advice that demystified the business side of music careers, I wrote Beyond Talent: Creating a Successful Career in Music, now in its third edition. I’ve also written articles for Inside Arts, The Strad, Classical Singer, and I write a column for Chamber Music magazine, all aimed at giving musicians down-to-earth solutions for career-related dilemmas.

Backstory
Although my background set me up perfectly for this work, it wasn’t at all what I originally imagined for myself.

I started out as a cellist, got a doctorate in performance from Stony Brook University, studied in Paris, and taught cello at the college level for a few years before realizing I had this ‘other calling.’

I never dreamt I’d write a popular career guide or run career and entrepreneurship centers at top conservatories. I would never have predicted that I’d help hundreds of musicians create their own paths to success.

That’s one of the reasons I’m fascinated with how careers develop. Because when artists align their actions with their core purpose, their careers—and their artistry—leap ahead. I know because I see it and I’ve lived it.

Perspective
People often ask me what it takes to succeed. Beyond talent, it takes the courage to dream, the power to plan, and the will to get things done. It’s about more than your job or your career, it’s about the kind of life you want to live, and the person—the artist—you want to become.

For a sense of my ‘why,’ see this: