The importance of Arts Education in our lives.

My arts experience started at a young age in suburban Detroit. I grew up the youngest of nine children in a blue-collar family. We had a roof over our heads, food on the table, and parents who loved and cared for the family. When I was a young cub scout, a music teacher heard me sing the National Anthem at an assembly. He gave me a lot of encouragement and told me I should pursue music. From that day forward, I wanted to sing.

My high school days included performing in theatre productions and singing in the choir. I performed many solos and got hooked on the feeling of being on stage. It gave me a focus to pay attention in school, learn to read and write and have the goal of graduating from college. Arts helped me to believe in myself. I was going to be one of the only kids in my family to go to university.

I was lucky to be accepted into the internationally known vocal jazz ensemble, Gold Company, at Western Michigan University under the direction of the late Dr. Steve Zegree. It was a dream education into the world of jazz music at the highest level. It was challenging for me to perform in this amazing vocal ensemble while focusing on my business and communications coursework. I graduated with a Communications Bachelor of Science and General Business degree. But I wouldn’t change anything as I look back on it. My music experience in Gold Company was a huge part of my education. It gave me the foundation to become a leader with a purpose to live my life in the arts and follow my dream of performing on Broadway.