About Me

I was born and raised in Charlotte, NC, and began piano lessons in the fourth grade, visiting Mrs. Griffin weekly for lessons in her home just down the street. In high school, I transferred to lessons with Marie Hargett in the prep department of Queen's University, Charlotte. A scholarship to study French in France transformed my life: at a hair-raising organ concert in Notre Dame, Paris, I suddenly knew I needed to study music, and not medicine. During my sophomore year at UNC Chapel Hill, I made the switch formal. By the next year, Prof. Francis Whang was my all-inspiring teacher, leading me to develop skills and mastery I'd never before had. (See his review below). The program of my senior recital - Beethoven, Chopin and Poulenc - demonstrates my love of music of many eras.

I bought my first piano - a Knabe grand - in 1978, before I had a car, and continued my studies with Francis Whang, as well as with Boaz Sharon, then professor of piano at Duke University.

When, in 1979, severe tendinitis struck, I abandoned my teacher- approved plan to apply to a music conservatory and began working in public radio. With a job as Program Dir. of WDAV (1980 - 1985) I moved to Davidson and bought the historic house on South Street that I still own today.

Married life took me to Maine, Connecticut, and Greece for several years. In 1996, I returned to my NC home and resumed part-time radio work, most recently as host and executive producer of CHORAL SHOWCASE on WDAV. I raised two children - Daniel and Annie Rhodes - in the idyllic, small town of Davidson. Through my work as a church musician and a piano teacher in my own private studio, I have introduced many people to the joys of reading and performing music.

My own musical preferences range from the classical music of Palestrina to Stravinsky. Also old-time mountain music, African drumming, world chants and jazz.