Alumni Donor Pays It Forward

During my undergraduate time at Waterloo, Grebel gave me a community where music and academics weren’t separate pursuits—I could major in Computer Science with Music as a minor area of study. Giving back with the Woodwind Award is my way of making sure current students don’t have to choose between the two either.

Many of the professors in Grebel’s Music faculty were instrumental (pun intended!) in the development of my music studies. Besides being able to improve my saxophone skills in Grebel’s practice rooms after completing my math homework, participating in the Jazz Ensemble and in small chamber groups was a real highlight. Grebel’s small, close-knit environment made it easy to find people who encouraged my music development, and that support is what I want to extend to today’s students. 

Momentum in my musical development while at Grebel led me to enrol in Jazz Studies at Humber College after graduating from Waterloo. Since then, I’ve not only studied in the US with some great jazz and classical saxophone teachers, I’ve spent my career split between two disciplines—running my own IT company, while also touring and performing as a concert and jazz saxophonist. Grebel is where I learned that both my passions could coexist rather than compete, and that knowledge has shaped how I’ve built my professional and creative life ever since.

Student life is full of challenges. I hope the Woodwind Award gives students one less thing to worry about—whether it’s an instrument repair, or the ability to buy sheet music, study books, or lessons—so they can keep pursuing music alongside their academics.