I graduated from Apple Valley High School (AVHS) and The School of Environmental Studies (SES) in 1999. At SES I gained a lot of hands-on and outdoor field experience and developed invaluable creative writing skills and self-expressionism. At AVHS I received honor awards in music and was involved in Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Brass Ensembles (on trumpet). After graduating high school I studied trumpet with Robert Baca from 1999-2004 at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. In the summer of 2003 I attended a leadership conference at the Conn-Selmer Institute in Indiana where I learned strategies to develop professional relationships and how to apply clear and consistent communication tools. Also throughout my college career I took part in many music conferences in the United States and Canada.