I earned my undergraduate degree in history from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2013. In tandem with my degree, I privately studied the organ and Church music more generally. After becoming a regular organist and choir director at a number of Lutheran parishes in Wisconsin, I went on to obtain a second bachelor’s and official certification as a parish musician through Concordia University Wisconsin in 2018. Meanwhile, in 2016 I co-founded a non-profit organization, Return to Wittenberg, Inc., which is focused on educating students within the Lutheran tradition about classical Church music. I currently serve on the Board of Directors and was appointed Kantor (music director and principal organist) for the organization.
I recently earned a Master of Music from the University of Florida (2020), where I wrote a thesis on Martin Luther’s philosophy of music education under the supervision of Dr. Dale Bazaan and Dr. Matthew Theibault. The Center for Church Music in Chicago subsequently appointed me the 2020 Schalk Scholar for this research. During my time at the University, I started a music programme (theory and choral) and taught all grade levels for Immanuel Lutheran School in Sheboygan, WI.
I am currently a resident organist at Saint John’s Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Oak Creek, WI, which is the oldest founding member congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). I reside in Milwaukee, WI, near my fiancé Emily, while pursuing my PhD research at the University of Birmingham by distance.