Number of years on the team: 1st

Prior Experience:  High School and College Drumline; DCI – Rochester Patriots 1998-2001, 2003, Madison Scouts 2002; WGI – Rochester Patriots 1998-2000, Spirit Performing Youth Ensemble 2001, Music City Mystique 2004; PAS – MTSU 2004; Professional – Dynamic Rhythm Entertainment, Cutting Edge Haunted House, FC Dallas, Dallas Mavericks

Hometown:  Syracuse, NY

I am a musician because: playing music has always felt like something I needed to do.  I’ve been playing in some form since the 3rd grade and I can’t imagine my life without that creative outlet present.

What do I like to do most besides drumming is:  I’m in to the latest technology, video games, biking, reading, and cooking.

Advice to Youngsters:  Learning new things can be difficult and it’s OK to not excel at something right away.  Hard work pays off.  The easy road does nothing but limit one’s potential.

My biggest role model is:  My parents are my biggest role models by far.  My mom is a small business owner for almost 40 years and my dad is a high level manager at a Mack Trucks location and both have worked their way up from the ground level to become as successful as they are today.  They have both taught me that hard work pays off and no one gets anywhere by being lazy.  Without their lessons and forcing me to not give up when things got tough I would not be in the position that I am today in work and life.  Work hard and earn it!

Favorite Cowboys player past or present:  Moose Johnston, former Syracuse Orange and all around great player!

Favorite Performer(s):  The band Rush is most definitely my favorite group to watch perform.  Unmatched precision and musicianship, genuine enjoyment of what they are doing, and 40+ years of incredible songs.

Favorite Music:  I have no one favorite style of music.  If you look at my playlist you will see everything from Jazz Standards to Death Metal to Motown to Classical and everything in between.

Favorite Quotes:  “I intend to live forever. So far, so good.” – Steven Wright

The three guests I would invite to my fantasy dinner party are:  Neal Peart, Mel Brooks, and Louis CK.  All three of these people are masters in their particular field of art and in many cases helped to truly create their field and inspire other’s creativity.  The other thing that impresses me is that they don’t act like they are huge influences to scores of people, they are just themselves, doing their art the way they do it.