I was born, raised, and schooled in the Midwest, but a few years after I finished college in Minnesota I found myself living in the Siberian Republic of Tyva on a year-long Fulbright scholarship to study the beautiful arts of Tyvan khöömei, or "Throat Singing." That year turned into twenty and launched my career as the first and only foreign-born musician in the Tyvan National Orchestra; the producer, interpreter and tour manager for the virtuoso Tyvan trio, Alash; translator of scholarly articles on Tyva, international music festival producer, and beloved stage personality and emcee in my adopted land of Tyva. Returning home with my family recently, I have begun channeling my diverse and broad international experience in the arts, to bring local heart and global vision to my work in voice artistry.