Born in Rhode Island, I received my B.A. and B.S. from the University of Rhode Island and a M.A. in Musicology with a concentration in Ethnomusicology from Tufts University. I then began study at the University of California Los Angeles in the Department of Ethnomusicology, and became a candidate of philosophy in 2008.

Though my musical interests and experiences vary greatly, I am often drawn to the vernacular musics of the southern United States.

I am currently conducting fieldwork for my dissertation topic, "Space, Place, and Music in New Orleans." I find New Orleans to be an excellent city to study music and space. Where else in the United States can one encounter such a density of parading traditions and a wealth of historically important musical places that remain operational despite all obstacles?