As a child, I played a little piano and violin. Pretty badly, really. I just didn't like my teacher. The only string instrument she didn't play was double bass, so I began playing that. I was tall but skinny. It was an interesting challenge, and I liked being unique. I played fairly well, although no virtuoso. I was not much interested in the work of practice. I was very strong from carrying around that large instrument.
It interested me enough, and helped me make friends enough, that I went to NC School of the Arts for several summers, then my final year of High School and first year of College. After that I got a Bachelor of Music from Florida State. I played in various symphonies during that time (NC Symphony, Greensboro, Charlotte, N. Wilkesboro, NCSA, FSU), and had a fine time. But I was not confident that I could make a living playing classical music in symphonies. I had during this time and later picked up electric bass, and was probably better at this instrument. It didn't take as much strength. Over the years I played in various cover bands, but as they always seemed to break up right after we'd spent a year learning 3 sets of music, it was just a heartbreaking enterprise. I was looking for something to do creatively in which I didn't have to count on others to have some success .
I had begun making some wood furniture, and enjoyed that very much, but didn't feel that was a practical avocation. I would just use that skill to make things needed, and it has remained fun for me.
I also began writing. In that last many years, I've written a musical book, a screenplay, and am working now on another screenplay. The musical was made musical by my brother in law Petko, and my sister Ginger. Petko arranged all the songs, and Petko and Ginger's voices are those you hear in the demo mp3 files.
Enter Stained Glass. I began working in glass in 2004. I took classes and worked with a master glass designer. Each piece improves your skills, and I began to see some skill. I enjoyed creating the designs in my head, and expressing them in glass and lead. So that brings me to now, and to you. Thanks for reading!
