Thank you very much for taking the time to read about Away From Home. This album has been a passion project of mine since I arrived at The College of St. Rose in Albany, New York, United States, where I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Music Industry in May of 2020. I feel so blessed to finally bring this into fruition. I consider this album to be a concept album because it tells the story of my experiences here “away from home.” Looking back, I am certainly not the same person who entered St. Rose, but I am grateful for every lesson that I learned.
It was around March of 2017 that I developed the concept for this album. My first semester, though very informative, was one of the scariest, confusing, stressful, and draining parts of my life. Just as many of us go through, I was having a hard time transitioning into the new life I was starting for myself. I felt quite alone, strung out, and my imagination had run dry. I had not written a song since that summer. But one night I went to the Artist Management Showcase on campus, and I was blown away by the artistry everyone showcased. It revitalized me, and I went back to my dorm, where I began to finalize the first song on the album, “Tomorrow Man.” That quickly led to the birth of a few other songs, such as “Easy,” “Shine,” and “We Can Dance.” Since then, I knew that those four songs were going to be the foundation of this project. Songs have come and gone since then, but those four have always stayed, and have helped shape my story of college, and help pave the way for what you will hear tonight.
Just as I was revitalized by The Artist Management Showcase, I hope to revitalize others through entertainment. As an entertainer, I'm not after the "That was so amazing!" I am in it more for "That made me feel..." Music affects people like nothing else, and it's a privilege to see someone moved a particular way by the arts. I constantly say this, but I believe music is the universal language because it expresses emotions better than any other form of communication. I hope to help people laugh, think, and cry through my art. My first album, I wanted people to think. My second EP, I wanted people to feel. Now with this album, I hope to inspire people.

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There are so many people that I would like to thank. First off, I want to thank my voice teachers Alexander Turpin, Marta Waterman, and Kelly Bird. To Professor Turpin, thank you for getting me introduced to the style of vocal lessons. To Marta, thank you so much for helping me embrace myself and take my voice to new levels. To Kelly, thank you so much for facilitating and advising me through my senior project and my daring Convocation.
I want to say thank you to all the teachers here in the music program, specifically Professor Finck, Professor Lin, Professor Czernecki, Professor Aaronstein, Dr. Roter, Dr. Lee, Dr. Levi, Dr. Richmond, Dr. McClowry, Dr. Boddie, Dr. Gunther, and Dr. Lister. You all have inspired me through your classes, and I am honored to have learned under you.
Thank you to Dr. Evoskovich and my Jazz Arranging Class this semester. It was a great place to workshop our material for our projects!
Thank you to Sister Mary Ann Nelson, for helping in my admission process at St. Rose, for assistance when I was struggling with some issues freshman year, and always keeping an eye on me ever since. You have been a terrific advisor, and I am grateful for all your insight.
Thank you to Sean Wendell for being a great mentor, boss, and friend. Thank you for the experiences and guidance in live sound, studio recording, and much more. Thank you for all the coffee runs, and times talking backstage. You have taught me so much more besides the music industry, and I’m grateful to get to know and work with you.
Thank you to the admissions team at St. Rose, who I have had the chance to work alongside with and showcase St. Rose proudly over the years. I want to thank Matt Stabler, in particular, for without him, I probably would not be at St. Rose right now.


Thank you to the many clubs and organizations I’ve been in. Thank you to my SA family, for coming together to support each other so well this year. Thank you to my MISA family for teaching me so much of the music business, and collaborating with others. Thank you to The Massry Center and Troy Music Hall for all the exposure I have had to the live concert world. Thank you to the Audio Crew over the years, working and learning alongside each other.
I want to thank all the friends I have made through the years here, from Bru 2 Center-West Crew, The Alumni Family, The 215 Boiz, and so many other beautiful people. I am nothing without the experiences I have had with my friends and acquaintances. Thank you to all the friends back home who have always believed in me, and have stayed in touch. Thank you for being so pivotal to my life.
Thank you to all the musicians on this album. Thank you to Alex Hitrick, Kevin Bennet, Tia Mathison, Robert Friedmann, Aidan Sloppy, Zech Allen, Maddie Hempstead, Nick Rivera, Emily Mousouroulis, Kelly Bird, and The Golden Notes for all performing on this project. Thank you to Zach Hess and Brian Dono for assisting on the recording and engineering process. Without any of you, this would not sound nearly as amazing.
Thank you to Rachel D’Amico for all the photography and videography over the years. The album cover is from a photoshoot freshman year that I fell in love with. Rachel has certainly helped me tell my story visually, and I’m grateful for her talent.
Thank you to my family for always being there no matter what. To all my aunts, uncles, and cousins, thank you for instilling a passion in me to keep moving forward with my career. To my grandparents, who have shown nothing but love and dedication to me and my dream. And of course, my parents. Thank you for believing in me, and all the sacrifices you have taken in order to give me the best that you can offer. I am humbled by your efforts, and I love you so much. I would not be anywhere without you guys. You have instilled many good values into me, and have enabled so much of the opportunities I have had. I owe it all to you.