I am a native Californian, having been born in the San Joaquin County General Hospital. I lived in Tracy, graduating from Tracy High School in 1960. That is the same school my mother graduated from many years before me. I attended Fresno State College, graduating in 1972 with a B.A. in Home Economics.
I know....That's 12 years, but I did it with 3 1/2 children at home. Yeah!!
I received 2 teaching credentials from Sac State, a Single Subject Secondary credential and a Severely Handicap credential.
My music career started with the piano at 4 years old. I continued piano lessons until I graduated from high school. In elementary school I played the violin - It was the same violin my Grandpa and my Mom played. I still have it! I am now picking up bluegrass fiddle playing.
I wanted to be in the marching band in high school, so I picked up the clarinet. After high school I stopped music to concentrate on other things. However, I was a church organist in Fresno and in Fair Oaks. I also directed youth choirs in Sacramento and Fair Oaks United Methodist Churches.
I have played in community bands for over 35 years, having had both Ed LaFranchi and Dr. Lehr as directors. I love the musicianship and quality of music that Dr. Lehr brings to each rehearsal.
In the beginning Ed was my next door neighbor. He asked me to come play bass drum in his band. Having never looked at percussion music in my life, I felt he wouldn't ask me back after that first rehearsal, but here I am some 35 years later.
I retired from teaching in 2004, having taught Severely Emotional Disturbed students for 23 years in the San Juan school district. I stayed home for one year and am now a substitute teacher for the El Dorado County Office of Education. I also volunteer in my granddaughter's fourth-grade classroom and teach music to 75 first graders. Not all at once, however, Just 25 at a time.
My husband, Dan, and I have 3 living children and 6 grand children. We now live in Pollock Pines with our two dogs, Mollie and Bailie.
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