Fun Facts:
i.e. I love Avocados
Instruments I Play:
In order from most skill to least:
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French Horn
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Saxophone
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Trumpet
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Voice
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Clarinet/Bass Clarinet
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Flute
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Ukulele
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Percussion
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Piano
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Trombone
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Euphonium
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Guitar
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Violin
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Cello
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Tuba
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Bass
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Viola
Favorite Music Genre(s):
It really depends on my mood:
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Bossa Nova when I'm just chilling on my balcony, drinking coffee, and taking in the view.
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"Classical" (Orchestral) when I'm feeling geeky, wanting to play my horn but can't, or feel anxious and need to calm down. Depending on the composer: I like falling asleep to Debussy and/or Ravel.
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Classic (70s) Rock when I need to decompress, or want to party.
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Cuban, Puerto Rican, or Salsa music when I'm feeling active (cleaning, cooking, dancing).
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Latin & American Folk Music when I'm feeling nostalgic or a little melancholy.
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Jazz & Blues when I'm driving, painting, or thinking of my Dad.
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R&B and Funk when I'm feeling energized
Places I've Visited:
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Arizona (Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Phoenix, Chandler)
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Colorado (Mesa Verde, Rockies, Durango, Silverton, Colorado Springs.
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France (Paris, Chantilly, Versailles)
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Illinois (Chicago)
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Louisiana (New Orleans)
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Michigan (Farmington Hills)
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Nevada (Las Vegas, Red Rock, Reno, Tahoe)
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Ohio (Cleveland, Chagrin Falls)
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Oregon (Noti, Eugene, Tillamook, Portland)
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Utah (St. George)
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Washington (Mill Creek, Seattle, Snohomish, Deception Pass, Mt. Rainier National Park)
Places I've Performed
Narrowed Down to the Coolest
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Preservation Hall (in New Orleans): I got to play with my Dixieland Band and the real Preservation Hall Band. The Piano player was 99 years old and blind, and could play with more soul than I had ever heard.
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Disney Concert Hall (twice!) once with the LAYO and again with Riverside City College Wind Ensemble.DisneyDWin
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Jackson Square (also New Orleans): Musicians Busk EVERYWHERE here! I also got to watch the famous Doreen play clarinet there. Her notes cut through me like a knife!
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Champs Elysées (the famous boulevard in Paris): I marched down it in a parade block in the rain.
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Chantilly (a small cobblestone village outside of Paris): this was the day after the other parade. The rain had saturated everything. It was freezing and our instruments were colder yet. We marched on the uneven cobblestone (trying to keep from tripping), and then the cobblestone ended and the white, sticky and icy mud took over. Our shoes got stuck in the mud and our uniforms were in desperate need of washing. But then the parade ended at a really cool chateau (built by a mad man).
Hobbies
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Kayaking
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Rowing
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Painting
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Cooking
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Gardening
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Camping
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Hiking
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Playing Ukulele
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Going to the Batting Cages
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I used to be a softball pitcher before I had to choose between the sport and music.
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Playing the role of "Fun Auntie" to my niece and my best friend's children :)
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Cosplaying for Midnight Shows (but it's been a long time since I got to dress up like this).
Me as Professor McGonagall
My Sister & Her Hubby as Voldemort & Bellatrix
Fur Babies:
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Hunter: the cat who changed it all! I was never a "cat person" and always preferred dogs before he chose me. I lost Hunter in May of 2022 and forever left a Hunter-sized hole in my heart.
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Opal-Anne (aka: Night Fury): She joined my family in August of 2021, just before the school year began. I hoped she would keep Hunter company when I returned to school. They're getting along pretty well so far and she's so fun to watch! Who needs TV when you have the Adventures of Hunter and Opal to watch!?
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Iñigo (Montoya): This lovable buff tabby joined my family shortly after Hunter crossed the rainbow bridge, to keep Opal company. He is such a sweetheart and quite the chonk weighing in around 13 pounds! He and Opal are now the best of friends and I look forward to seeing them at the end of every school day :)