Off to Anderson University

Later today, I’ll be headed north to Anderson University during their summer string camp.  Throughout the year I have the opportunity to give talks to college students as well as high school and middle school students.  Teacher and professors ask me to speak on several topics, but a common request is for me to describe my path in the music world.  It is more helpful now than ever for students to hear that the trajectory of their career is rarely linear – there are almost always twists, turns, and obstacles.  I entered Butler University to earn my cello performance degree with the goal of winning an audition with a major symphony orchestra.  Well…I did, in fact, successfully earn my degree.  After that, things didn’t exactly go to plan!  During my four years at Butler, I met my future wife.  Suddenly, having kids and a normal working schedule became bigger priorities for me than a performance career.  After graduating:

• My first job out of school was with Baldwin Piano as a Factory Representative, which lasted six months.
• I pursued a job with Cummins Diesel (besides music, I loved trucks and diesel engines) and became a Materials Planner, ordering components to support engine production.
• I asked Angie to marry me (she said yes!)
• I used my experience at Cummins to move back to Indianapolis with an aerospace manufacturing firm called Aerofab.  I was a Materials Planner and Production Scheduler for Aerofab.
• I got married!
• During my time at Aerofab, I took advantage of their tuition assistance program and earned my MBA in Marketing from the IU Kelley School of Business while continuing to work full-time.
• All of this experience and education led me back into the music world when I found out Paige’s was creating/hiring a new position called “Orchestral Strings Specialist”.

The past twelve years at Paige’s have been amazing, but all of my past experience and education is a big part of why it’s been so successful.  Without all of the twists and turns, I wouldn’t be who I am or approach my work the same way.  I relish the opportunity to share some of these lessons with students!