my biography
I am a versatile artist whose influence spans both the academic and entertainment worlds. Based in Los Angeles, CA, I wear many hats as a pianist, author, scholar, music director, educator, and entertainment executive. My work encompasses a broad spectrum of art forms and genres, from Chopin etudes and Piazzolla tangos to contemporary musical theater and onscreen media.
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As a scholar, I specialize in Latin American and Argentine tango music. I am honored to be a co-recipient of the 2024 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant to hold an international, interdisciplinary conference on tango. I co-edited The Cambridge Companion to Tango (April 2024) and co-authored Tracing Tangueros: Argentine Tango Instrumental Music (Oxford University Press, 2016), which delves into the rich history and creators of this vibrant art form. My writing has also appeared in Chamber Music Magazine, and I have performed and lectured across the United States, Latin America, and Europe.
In my role as Vice President of Creative Affairs at Skylark Entertainment, I oversee key talent and creative projects, collaborating closely with my husband, seasoned production executive Jake Rose, to shape the company’s artistic vision. My background in music, education, and theater/opera enables me to manage and contribute effectively to a diverse array of media projects.
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In past seasons, I have served as a music director or accompanist for Ventura College, Out of the Box Theatre Company, Opera Santa Barbara, Kansas City Lyric Opera, and New Theatre of Kansas City. I have accompanied classes for such prestigious artists as Marilyn Horne and Yo-Yo Ma. I have also worked with UC Santa Barbara and accompanied dance classes for Heather Watts, Deborah Wingert, and Mark Morris Dance Group, as well as Interlochen Center for the Arts and Cecchetti Summer Institutes. In 2015, I was the music director for Adam Barruch's DANCEworks residency at the Lobero Theater in Santa Barbara and his dance/theater production of Sweeney Todd, which received accolades from Sondheim himself.
As an advocate for new music, I recorded the CD Small Town (Centaur, 2017), featuring the works of Ori Barel. I frequently perform at NACUSA concerts and had the privilege of presenting Katherine Saxon's From Paris to Helen at the LA Chapter's 85th Anniversary Celebration.
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As an educator, I teach online group and private lessons to those around the United States. My private piano students participate in programs and competitions with MTAC, MTNA, and National Reflections Program.
I hold a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of California – Santa Barbara, a Master’s in Musicology from the University of Miami, and both a Master’s in Accompanying and a Bachelor’s in Piano Performance from the University of Kansas.