Q: Tell us a little about yourself.

A: “I grew up in Ann Arbor, so I went to the Ann Arbor Public Schools, and I’ve been playing instruments for most of my life; I started when I was five. This is my twentieth year at Clague. I started teaching here in 2002.”

Q: Do you have any hobbies, sports, or clubs you’re interested in, now or in the past?

A: “I did a lot of dance when I was a kid, and I love dancing now, too. I love swaying, salsa dancing and Balkan line dancing. As for hobbies, I love to read and be outside, being with nature, things like walking and hiking. I love being in the mountains and the oceans.”

Q: What have you learned since the pandemic?

A: “I think the pandemic taught me to let go of expectations and to relax more. And definitely patience and to have more fun. Things did get too serious last year and it’s really important to relax and have more fun.”  

Q: Do you have an interesting talent or facts about yourself? If yes, what?

A: “I have a silly thing that I can do. I can balance up to ten spoons on my face. I also play in a lot of bands on my cello. I love to improvise. I taught string instruments in Kenya one summer in 2016, and I love to travel. I love going out West, and I’ve been to Europe, Eastern Europe a lot. The next place I’d like to visit is Korea or Japan. I’ve always wanted to visit Japan. I like doing origami, my favorite being boxes and geometric designs.” 

Q: Favorite instrument other than a string instrument?

A: “I love bow-stringed instruments that are outside the violin family. So, I’m really interested in this instrument from Bulgaria, the Gadulka. I also want to play the Sangathi, which is an Indian instrument. I love trying bowed-instruments from other cultures different from what I grew up with. The general term for those instruments are spike fiddles. I love the piano. I took piano lessons when I was growing up, but I don’t play very well right now.”