BIO.
My musical journey began when I started playing the guitar when I was five or six years old. Complementary to my guitar lessons at the time, my uncle, my dad, and I would sit around the living room with our guitars and strum through Eagles and John Denver tunes.
My first experiences playing live shows were a few elementary school talent shows. As my guitar lessons progressed, I grew more confident. I played small parties here and there. I began to meet and talk to other musicians - I was beginning to be influenced by other bands. One band that I have followed since seemingly the beginning of time is the Mighty Parrot Band out of Cape May, NJ. To this day, they are one of the tightest bands I have ever known. My own set list borrowed from theirs a great deal, and I owe a significant amount of my taste in music to them.
Meanwhile, back in PA, when I was around 14, I was introduced to an open mic at the Ice House Pub. (The Ice House Pub has since discontinued having live entertainment, unfortunately.) The open mic held the moniker the "Ice Jam" because anyone could get up and jam. It was here that I would gain much of my performing experience, and the nickname "Willy B." A few of the folks from that jam session formed a Celtic band, and I ended up playing mandolin and banjo with them.
Now, two music degrees later, I find myself frequently back and forth between New York City and my home town in Pennsylvania. Currently, I sing, I play guitar (and accordion, among other things!), and I compose. I was a member of a Ukrainian folk ensemble for seven years, and I am currently an active member of New York Chamber Choirs. To top it all off, my day jobs are at two prestigious musical institutions in NYC!
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If you would like to discuss booking details, composition commissions, if you have any questions, or would otherwise like to get in touch, please use the "contact" tab on the menu above, and I will happily get back to you!