Who or what inspired you to take up the double bass and pursue a career in music?
My entire family are musicians, so I have always grown up around music. It was never forced on me, but when I was four I saw a school orchestra with a violin soloist and told my mom I wanted to play that too! I didn’t switch to double bass until many years later, when the music played by my own school orchestra wasn’t challenging enough for me on the violin, that I decided to pick up a new instrument. I saw the double basses at the back of the class and just fell in love. I also secretly wanted to join the jazz band instead, so it worked out perfectly.
Who or what were the most important influences on your musical life and career?
My teachers and the musical community I grew up in have always been a huge source of inspiration for me. While Tucson, Arizona might not be known for its musicians, it has a wonderful music scene that was always encouraging to me as a young musician. I would perform recitals and gigs for musicians I had known my entire life, who would always give me new opportunities to challenge me and introduce me to different aspects of the life of a working musician. The chances I was given to perform with the professional musicians from a young age kept me inspired to work hard and always be striving to be the best I can be.
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