FROM CRIB TO COMMUNITY THEATRE: A LIFE IN THE ARTS

My mother once told me that I used to sing in my crib before I could even walk or talk. I don't find that hard to believe. Performing in some capacity, whether singing or acting, has been the fiber of my life since the beginning. My formal music training began at age 8 when I auditioned for The Texas Girls Choir and made it into the Preparatory Choir. I spent four years with the choir, moving to Millsap Main and Concert Choir. During those years, I toured across Texas, performing at venues such as TCU's Ed Landreth Hall, Tandy Center, Scarborough Fair, and the State Fair of Texas. In middle and high school, I worked with the wonderful Barbra Nathman, who helped me take those skills to the next level. There, I competed in the TMEA All-State Choir and U.I.L. Solo and Ensemble, where our show choir, Tribe, won Best Show Choir in the State of Texas for our show Raise a Ruckus. From Keller High School, I had a brief stint at the University of North Texas, where I was a member of the Concert Choir for one semester before transferring to Tarrant County College.

While a student there, I worked with Stacey Shronck on productions such as A Tribute to Disney and Chicago. A few years later, I sang under the direction of Jing Ling Tam in Fort Worth Opera's first production at Bass Hall, la Boheme. Life threw me a curveball during rehearsals for their next production, Turandot, so I left music altogether to focus on my family. It was around this time that I entered the world of finance. I worked in many capacities, from bank teller to Chief Financial Officer, during the next twenty years. The financial industry provided me with a means to support my family and have a good life, but something always seemed missing. During that time, I directed the Keller Church of Christ's Middle School Choir for three years and wrote and directed original plays for our annual Leadership Training in Christ Conference, where both the choir and One Act Plays earned ratings of gold.

In 2011, I founded the Timber Creek High School Theatre Boosters and served as president until 2013. During my time with the organization, we raised over $84,000 for camp and college scholarships and provided additional educational and production resources to the Timber Creek High School Theatre Department. Having my feet wet again, I returned to Tarrant County College in 2019 to pursue a degree in Musical Theatre, taking some level-setting courses before transferring to Texas Wesleyan University. My time at Texas Wesleyan exposed me to many facets of theatre, from costume designing to playwriting and directing. In December 2021, I graduated from Texas Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts. I joined the Tarrant County College District's South Campus Senior Education Program as a Performing Arts Instructor in August of 2021, where I currently teach the course "Let's Explore Theatre." In May 2022, I founded the Parker County Theatre Company, bringing live theatre to the people of Parker County. Since its formation, Parker County Theatre Company has produced original and classical works, from It's a Wonderful to William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, all at no cost to its patrons.

This life has been a fantastic journey, and I can't wait to see where God takes me next!