This month, we’re shining the spotlight on the Executive Director of the Sequoia Symphony Orchestra, who stepped into the role in 2025 after a richly varied career spanning music, business, nonprofit leadership, and even pastry arts. A lifelong musician with experience as a pianist, choir director, and teacher, he has seamlessly blended his artistic roots with executive experience, from leading a prominent insurance agency to serving as President of the Visalia Fox Theatre Board. We caught up with him to talk about how his musical background shaped his leadership, his vision for expanding access to symphonic music across all walks of life, and why making live orchestral concerts a vibrant part of everyday life in Visalia is at the heart of his mission.

You became the Sequoia Symphony Executive Director in 2025, but you have made a career in many different types of business. How did that lead you to orchestra management?

I have always had a hand in music, having learned piano early in life and participated in choirs and later directing choirs and a private piano practice. I ventured into management as I took on the role at a prominent insurance agency for over a decade. This led me to joining and later becoming the president of the Visalia Fox Theatre Board. I remained in music teaching through my local church throughout this time, and I pursued my other passion as a pastry chef. I started my own bakery and juggled these roles for the next decade. When I chose to step away from the Fox Theatre to support our local chapter of the World Link Program which combines the Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES) and the Future Leaders EXchange program (FLEX), I was soon approached by the Sequoia Symphony to consider the position I now hold. Using my musical, management, marketing, nonprofit and venue operating backgrounds and familiarity with everyone in the arts, it was a perfect fit. 

How do you think your musical background influenced your career path? Were you able to apply skills from being a musician to your non-music related jobs?

Absolutely, it was a major influence in my career path. It was the constant as I had never left music during my entire life. In fact, a VP in the organization attended a concert where I was performing and that struck up an interest in my other skillsets, leading to my insurance job offer. That opened doors to the Fox board and right to the Symphony.  

How do you nurture the relationship between orchestra musicians and the staff?

Being that I am familiar with both roles at different stages of my life, I understand the needs required to foster trust and appreciation between the two. I live by the principle that if you can meet the four motives that drive us all, then you will have made a relationship for life. Those four motives (or walls of our heart) are, LOVE, PEACE, ACCEPTANCE, and RESPECT. When someone meets those needs in your life, you will never leave them. So, this is what I ask myself daily when interacting with anyone. "How can I continue to build this person's four walls that will enable me to harbor trust and appreciation within those walls of our relationship?"  

What is your vision for the Sequoia Symphony?

Music is something that we cannot live without. How can I prove this? Try going anywhere without music, at least playing in the background? You hear it above your head in the supermarket, and it's continually playing throughout a movie or TV show. It's on your car radio as you commute. It's on your phone so that you can access it through your headphones no matter where you are; at the beach, at the gym, or on a walk. Why? Because it produces healing like no other medium. It can change your mood. It can bring you joy even in the most difficult moments. It can clear your mind when you feel overwhelmed. This is why we need orchestral music; it is the best form of music for achieving healing. This should not be the area receiving budget cuts or loss of interest but quite the opposite. My goal is to change that mindset within the community. To make attending live symphony concerts a lifestyle that is adopted by all walks of life, not only the aging community or those who have the financial means to attend. This is why we offer free admission programs to at-risk youth, free lessons and musical instruments to underprivileged music students in our rural schools, film concerts that draw in younger families and children, and concerts that include dance, jazz, blues and modern vibes. I want to educate everyone on the health benefits of symphonic music and learning to play and sing. 

What is the best part about living in Visalia?

It's big enough to serve you but small enough to know you! You cannot go anywhere without seeing someone you know and love. As you grow older, you realize the connection within our community and value the things you tended to take for granted in your youth. 

Besides classical music, what is your favorite music to listen to or your favorite artist?

I love blues, jazz, and gospel music as well.