Hailing from Chicago, Il, Steve is a music instructor and percussionist who received his performance degree from Columbia College in 2012, studied music education at Georgia State University from 2015-2017, and completed his licensure as an educator in the state of Illinois at Trinity Christian College in 2018. After graduating from Columbia, Steve spent a great deal of time pursuing performance opportunities alongside a part-time teaching career as a private instructor. His experience as a touring musician, teacher, and student had brought Steve to a level where he felt an obligation to provide a due service to the music community, so he decided to spend more time instructing. Since that decision, Steve’s passion grew expansively toward music education and led to his enrollment at GSU to further his career as an educator. He is now directing 4th and 5th grade band at Fremont Intermediate School in Mundelein, IL. Steve’s belief that the arts are an essential building block in the development of the young mind drives his strong advocacy for the inclusion of music in school curriculum. While Steve has enjoyed many years as an instructor to children and adults at public and private schools, art/performance schools, after-school programs, and mentorship programs, he plans to take the realm of music education to new heights with a more contemporary approach to the profession. Steve now resides in Des Plaines, IL with his wife Rachel, his son Campbell, and his dog Sally.