Frequently Asked questions
What is your background in music?
My journey with music began when I was five years old, begging my parents to put me in piano lessons after playing around with a small keyboard I found. Along my 20 year journey, I've picked up an array of instruments from cello to percussion, eventually going on to study music at Oklahoma State University. My degree allowed me to obtain a focus in conducting, orchestration, world music/instruments and the musical eras throughout history, as well as sound engineering and composing.
Why movie scores?
I fell in love with movie scores as a young girl, doing anything I could to be in the theater and listening to soundtracks, as well as learning to play them on the piano and cello. My parents introduced me early on to a wide array of movies and television shows, from anything Steven Spielberg to Monty Python - I Love Lucy to Xena: Warrior Princess. In the past 20 years, I've found myself at the theater every week and listening to the hundreds of soundtracks I've bought over that time. I knew I wanted to work in the film industry in any capacity, and from my love and obsession with both music and movies, it made sense for me to follow my passion and become a film composer.
What organizations are you affiliated with?
I am a member of American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), both as a writer and as a publisher, under the publishing company Espresso Induced Fanatic (EIF). I am also a member of The Society of Composers and Lyricists (The SCL).
What hardware and software do you work with?
I work with Sibelius, Pro Tools and EastWest/Quantum Leap. My equipment includes: Novation MIDI Keyboard Controller, MacBook, Ear Zonk Grado Headphones and Zoom H4n Recorder.
Do you record with live instruments or have access to record with live instruments?
In addition to the sounds used through EastWest/Quantum Leap, I have access to any instrument required for my pieces. I specialize in: cello, viola, violin, bass, piano, trumpet, clarinet, and guitar. All other requested instruments are accessible through colleagues.
What type of ensembles do you write for?
I compose for both full orchestra and smaller ensembles of any instrumentation.
Who are your influences?
I've been inspired by dozens upon dozens of different composers, a handful being: Howard Shore, Ramin Djwadi, John Williams, Michael Giacchino, Brian Tyler, James Newton Howard; Ludwig Van Beethoven, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Dmitri Shostakovich, George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein.