At age 16, I was an ardent pianist, playing classical pieces by Bach, Debussy, and Rachmaninoff. I wore my hearing aid whenever I practiced. But when I was told that with my hearing loss I would never be a concert pianist, my parents decided that they could no longer justify the time and expense of piano lessons. I reluctantly quit.
Twenty-five years later, in my early 40s, I found my way back to the piano. Resuming weekly lessons, I had to wrestle with my old belief that with my hearing loss, I was somehow not permitted to play. Seven years later, I debuted at Carnegie Hall, performing two Chopin pieces at a masterclass recital, the only performer wearing hearing aids.
At NMS, my daughter and I have both taken piano lessons, and in 2020, on the eve of the pandemic, I performed in NMS’ Beethoven 250 concert. I am passionate about helping those drawn to music experience its joys.
Professionally, I am a healthcare founder, strategic advisor, and executive, with expertise at the intersection of unlocking business value and empowering users. I have an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Stanford University in Quantitative Economics. In 2017, I founded Auditory Insight®, a boutique strategy consultancy focused on hearing healthcare. I advise companies and investors to help bring new drug therapies and devices to market for people with hearing loss. I am also the Founding Editor of Grand Piano Passion TM , an online oasis for musicians with hearing loss and adults studying the piano.
