My musical journey is unusual because I did not play an instrument as a kid.  Unfortunately, the Catholic elementary school I went to did not offer music education, but I had always longed to play an instrument.  When I was twenty years old, a boyfriend said that in ten years he would like to be “sitting under a tree playing a flute.”  My intense reaction was the angry thought, “You’re just saying that to sound cool!  Flute is MY instrument!”  So, I ran out and bought my first flute.  I tried, mostly unsuccessfully, to learn it on my own, and didn’t take lessons till I was fifty-five years old.  I always thought I couldn’t afford lessons but finally told myself that if I could afford them for my kids, I should be able to do that for myself.  My late start has been a huge handicap, but over the years I have taken tons of lessons, and I will never give up.  I am a sound junkie, and whenever possible have upgraded my instruments, which include the entire flute family, to the best quality I could afford. 

I joined the Cville Band 18 years ago and currently play in three other groups as well.  My favorite thing about the Cville Band is the opportunity for so much variety in repertoire and performance venues, plus the privilege of playing with so many accomplished musicians.  I am so lucky to be a member!

As much as I love flute, it ranks only third among the joys of my life.  Top of the list is having raised my two sons, who are now 42 and 37 years old.  Second most important part of my life has been my job as a massage therapist for the last 35 years.  At times I needed to work in order to pay college tuition, but mostly my career has been a labor of love.  My third joy has been my musical journey with flute, and it remains an enormously important part of my life, all the more so since my husband died three years ago.

A fun fact is that 30 years ago I organized a marching band called the Crozet String Band.  It was an off shoot of a band in New Jersey that my siblings belonged to.  We wore third-hand mummers’ costumes and marched in local parades.  Spectators loved us because of our outlandishly colorful costumes.  A large picture of us was on the front page of the Daily Progress entertainment section for the Dogwood Parade, and we won a giant trophy in the Crozet Parade for being the judges’ favorite.  We disbanded after a few years because it was too hard to get people to commit to showing up for parades, but it was fun while it lasted.