A bit about me…

Teacher Librarian, Berkeley High School

I have worked in education for about 15 years as a teacher and teacher librarian. Currently I work full time at Berkeley High School. We work with students to develop a love of reading as a way to promote personal growth, expansion of ideas, and pleasure. We also instruct students in the art of information literacy - how to locate what you seek to know, evaluate the content, and utilize/synthesize/incorporate the ideas that are being shared.

I am an avid reader and willing provide reading suggestions, especially for young adult fiction.

Afro Cuban drumming

My intro into percussion came as a deep dive into the world of Afro Cuban Drumming. Raised in Berkeley I was fortunate to have the guidance of master percussionists Josh Jones from a young age. I continued my studies at UCLA in the field of Ethnomusicology and learned Bata and Afro Cuban sacred and secular traditions under the tutelage of world famous master drummer Francisco Aguabella. I had the great fortune to sing with his sacred ensemble in LA for a few years in the late 90’s early 2000’s. With other students, we performed as a troupe under the name Omo Ache presenting Afro Cuban and fusion music, poetry. I continued to study Bata with Philipe Garcia Villamil. And performed with a 3 woman group, Enu, comprised of Martha Gonzalez, Niki Campbell and myself. Most of this ended when I returned to the Bay Area from LA in 2008, but I continued to study Bata and play for dance classes in the Bay for the next 5 years.

Loyd Family Players

From 2009-2013 I was a member of the Loyd Family Players drum ensemble. I performed and composed pieces for the raucous group of music and mischief makers. From Burning Man to the Fox Theater, from the streets of San Francisco to the wine country, we entertained revelers with the beats of a massive drum battery.