I want to believe in the power of music to cross social divides and bring together people of different races, classes, and nationalities.

To that end, I have organized an annual series of concerts performed by Lawrence students at nearby prisons.  These concerts have made an enormous impact on both audiences and performers.

Prison Concerts
Oshkosh Correctional Institution – 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020: Piano, Jazz, Choir, Wind Ensembles.
Wisconsin Resource Center – 2020: Piano. Planned again for spring, 2024

I have also organized an annual food drive for a local food pantry, through devoting November large ensemble concerts to raising funds for the Boston-based Music for Food.  We now raise in excess of $2000 annually.

Music for Food (2013 – present)
I am in charge of an annual food drive organized through the Boston-based Music for Food. We devote November large ensemble concerts to raising funds for a variety of local pantries in need, most recently the Oneida Nation Food Pantry. In spring, my piano studio presents another fund-raising concert, the proceeds of which have most recently gone to the Menominee nation. Quite aside from the obvious benefit of aiding the food needs of various under-served populations, these concerts have also been an educational opportunity for the students involved in speaking, performing, and helping to organize the events.