Occupation: I am a piano teacher at the Inspiring School of Music, and I work early mornings stocking at Caraluzzi’s. I also attend WestConn for English Literature.

Family: My mom, Laurie, is an EMT in Newtown. My dad, Paul, lives in Granby with his wife, Pam. My sister, Keira, is a senior studying biology at Northeastern University in Boston. I also have a lovely, lovely girlfriend named Syd.

Pets: I have a dog named Allegra and a cat named Moss.

How long have you lived in Newtown? I’ve lived in Newtown my entire life. I’m actually moving to New Haven soon, but will still be in town to teach and volunteer as part of the amazing Newtown EMS with my mom.

What do you like to do in your free time? This may be a bit corny for a music teacher to say, but I really do love making music in my free time. I try to teach the love of music the same way I’ve been taught, a way that allows me to find joy and freedom in the medium. It enriches my life, it was a gift to me, so I use it often. Piano has allowed me to pick up other instruments, and I spend a lot of time playing ukulele and guitar. I also enjoy making small recordings.

What is the best part about Newtown? The friends I’ve made here over the years are some of the greatest treasures of my life, and I keep making new ones.

What organizations are you part of in Newtown? I finished an EMT class in 2020 and hope to join Newtown EMS to volunteer as soon as I am fully certified. COVID foiled my plans to participate at the Town Players this year, but I plan on returning to music directing in the future.

Who or what has been the greatest influence in your life? My greatest influence has been every teacher I’ve ever had who really saw me and took the time to help me succeed. Teachers... and attending the Lilith Fair in 2010.

If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? I would love to follow Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez around for a day. I admire her strength, her bravery, and her persistence for everything she believes in. She is absolutely a hero of mine.

Who is your favorite musical artist? I’ll answer in three ways: My all-time favorite is probably Lady Lamb. Henry Jamison wrote my favorite song, called “The Rains,” and right now, I listen to Maggie Rogers most often.

What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? I’m famously forgetful, so I can’t recite the exact advice, but throughout my life, I’ve been lucky enough to have people instill in me themes of self-confidence and self-trust. My friends and family have always encouraged me to follow my arrow, and that is something I am grateful to be surrounded by and to be blessed enough to strive for.

What is something you cannot live without? Piano. As a kid, I would bring my keyboard to camp because I couldn’t be without it. Also, I bring a notebook and pens practically everywhere I go. I like to write down my thoughts or poetry and draw when I’m feeling fidgety. I always need to have my hands occupied, I suppose.

What is your proudest accomplishment? I’ve spent the last few years doing a lot of crazy things in theater, but when The Town Players of Newtown took a chance on me in 2019, I was in entirely new territory. It was the first time I’d ever be music directing, and it was their first musical in decades. I feel very proud of the work we did as a team in Is There Life After High School toward an outstanding final result, and of how much I personally grew through that experience.