ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
The majority of my academic training has come from the University of Southern California. As an undergrad I studied horn performance. I was chosen president of SC's chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, where Michael Tilson Thomas was one of my fraternity brothers. In graduate school I earned a Master of Music in composition (horn playing luminary Rick Todd played on my Masters recital) and later a PhD in historical musicology, writing on Beethoven. I was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda, the national music honor society in 1984.
I follow the football team and the tennis teams religiously.
I was elected president of the USC Student Senate (then equivalent to student body president) in 1987 and was later inducted into the Blue Key Honor Society. From 2008 to 2010 I served as president of the USC Thornton School of Music Alumni Association. For my service I received the Brandon Merhle Special Commendation Award from the school of music and the Widney Alumni House Award from the university.