Woodwind Session Musician

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: My promise to every client is to deliver recordings that breathe life into your music. At Sponge Studios, I aim to bridge the gap between digital and human expression giving you the warmth, nuance, and emotion that only live woodwinds can bring. You’ll hear the difference immediately: not just in tone quality, but in the soul and storytelling your project deserves.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: My journey began at age 11 with the alto saxophone, and by 12, I had already fallen in love with the art of woodwind doubling after picking up the flute. By 16, I had the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall with the ISO Symphony a defining moment that set me on the path toward a life in performance. After college, I was offered the International Tour of The Phantom of the Opera as the Oboe and English horn player, which opened the door to a career performing in Broadway and national productions across the country. From The Spongebob Musical, Hairspray (featuring Nina West), and The Book of Mormon, to Back to the Future and Annie (featuring Whoopi Goldberg at Madison Square Garden), each show deepened my connection to storytelling through music. In 2025, I toured nationally as the woodwind soloist for Naruto: The Symphonic Experience and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 10th Anniversary Tour with Percival, bringing the sound worlds of beloved franchises to life for audiences across the U.S. With over 20 years of performance experience, my career has been guided by one passion using woodwinds to tell stories that move people. Whether on stage, in film, or in games, I aim to bring that same depth, precision, and emotional color to every project I collaborate on.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: What I bring to a song or, scene is the ability to translate emotion into sound. With over 20 years of woodwind doubling and recording experience, I create performances that add color, character, and movement to your world. My goal is always to make your music feel alive whether that means subtle textures that breathe between strings or a soaring woodwind line that carries the story forward. Combined with professional recording and editing experience, I deliver tracks that blend seamlessly into your score and elevate the story you’re telling.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: My process always begins with understanding the creative vision behind the project. If you already have sheet music, I’ll record multiple takes typically two as written and one with additional musical flair giving you options to shape the final sound. If no written part exists, I’ll ask a few key questions about mood, tone, and purpose to craft something that fits seamlessly within your world whether it’s a film cue, game scene, or song. From there, I set up a dedicated Logic Pro session, organize tracks, and import all reference material before recording. I take time to listen through and sketch ideas where multiple textures might enhance the storytelling, ensuring the final recording feels inspired and intentional. All of this preparation happens before the official recording session so that I can work efficiently and keep my rates fair while still delivering the highest-quality, emotionally rich performances possible.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: My audio setup is designed to deliver cinematic, studio-quality recordings with precision and warmth. I record through a Royer 122 ribbon microphone as my main mic, paired with a Warm Audio 73 preamp/EQ for a clean, detailed signal path. Depending on the instrument and tone I’m after, I also draw from a range of microphones including AKG and Neumann models, all running through a MOTU M2 interface for reliable performance and clarity. I work primarily in Logic Pro, with a fully weighted 88-key controller on hand for sketching and reference. All recordings take place in my custom-built, soundproof booth, ensuring a controlled acoustic environment that captures every nuance of the performance — giving composers a mix-ready sound straight from the source.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: I find myself consistently finding new music or production techniques that inspire me. Touring with the band Percival has brought me a whole new inspiration of Folk and Metal working together to create a whole world from the music.

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: Most of my clients come to me for professional woodwind recordings — sometimes fully notated, sometimes improvised to match the project’s mood. I work on everything from film and game soundtracks to musical theater demos and commercial jingles, always focusing on capturing emotion, color, and character in every take.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: What I love most about my job is the ability to bring stories to life through sound. Since leaving my day job in 2018 to pursue music full-time, I’ve had the opportunity to perform on incredible stages and collaborate with artists and composers around the world. Every new project whether it’s a film score, game soundtrack, or musical theater production reminds me why I made that leap: to create something meaningful that connects with people on a global scale.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: When I speak with a new client, my first goal is to understand the scope and creative vision of the project. I usually start with a few key questions: What’s the deadline or timeline for delivery? Which instruments or combinations of woodwinds are needed? What’s the intended use film, game, theater, or studio recording? Do you have a budget range in mind? These details help me craft a tailored offer that fits both the artistic and practical needs of the project making it possible to include live, expressive woodwinds in your composition without going over budget.

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: If you’re looking to hire a musician for your score, my advice is simple: communicate your vision. The more I know about the world you’re creating its mood, pace, and emotion the more authentically I can bring it to life through sound. Don’t hesitate to reach out; collaboration is where the magic happens.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: My style lives at the crossroads of classical precision and modern expression. I draw on my background in theater, film, and game music to create performances that feel both emotional and alive whether it’s a lyrical flute line, a bold sax solo, or a haunting oboe melody. I love shaping sound in a way that connects deeply with the listener and enhances the narrative.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: One artist I’d love to collaborate with is Frank Wildhorn. His music captures the kind of emotional storytelling and dramatic energy that I love to express through woodwinds. I feel my experience in musical theater and orchestral performance would blend naturally with his style together, we could take those reed books to a whole new level of color and intensity.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Take the time to get to know your equipment, just because a studio has a ton of fancy equipment does not mean that they know how to effectively use it.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: The music I work on is constantly evolving, but it always centers around storytelling through sound. I’ve spent decades performing in musical theater, from beloved classics like Annie to world premieres such as My Best Friend’s Wedding. More recently, I toured as the woodwind soloist for Naruto: The Symphonic Experience, bringing iconic anime music to life from Fighting Dreamers to Sexy Jutsu. Currently, I’m on tour with Percival, celebrating 10 years of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt performing music that audiences around the world have spent hundreds of hours immersed in. I’ve also recorded for pop albums, as a saxophonist on studio sessions, and am preparing to release my own Christmas album in Winter 2025. Each project, whether theatrical, symphonic, or cinematic, allows me to explore new sound worlds and that constant variety is what fuels my creativity as a recording artist and storyteller.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: My strongest skill lies in reading and interpreting detailed sheet music while maintaining the emotional integrity of the piece. Whether it’s fast, intricate passages or layered textures across multiple instruments, I excel at transforming notation into performances that sound alive and cinematic.