Biography

I am a second-year Ph.D. student and Sproull Fellow in music theory at the Eastman School of Music. My research takes an interdisciplinary approach to the analysis of Japanese popular music (J-pop), drawing from music theory, film & media studies, and (popular) cultural studies. I focus particularly on the works of Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Machico, and YOASOBI, exploring dimensions of intertextuality, semiotics, and visual culture to examine how these artists engage audiences through a synthesis of sound, image, and cultural symbolism. Additionally, I have interests in anison (anime song, アニソン); jazz theory/analysis, particularly the music of Hiromi; musical form; issues of transcription; and the music of Harry T. Burleigh.

I am currently a teaching assistant at Eastman, and I have previously taught as an adjunct at Hofstra University; as an adjunct and graduate TA at Hunter College; and as a graduate TA (instructor of record) at the University of Colorado Boulder. I also serve as a web manager of Intégral, Eastman’s peer-reviewed music theory journal. Outside of music and academia, I work full-time as a manager, apprentice optician, and optometrist technician at LensCrafters. I enjoy my quest to find the best ramen shop, testing pens, building mechanical keyboards, and spending time with my fiancée. I have previously studied at Hunter College (CUNY), the University of Colorado Boulder, and Hofstra University.

September 2024