Began composing at age 5, shortly after starting piano lessons. Studied piano with Cheryl Banner, who had taught her sister. Continued to write throughout elementry, middle school and high school. Started playing cello at school in 5th and 6th grade, and began cello lessons when she took up the cello again in 1993. Started piano lessons again in 1995 with Mrs. Sylvia White to prepare an audition for college. Began formal composition lessons with Luis Jorge Gonzálas in 1998 at the Univerisity of Colorado at Boulder as a composition and piano major.

Also studied with John Drumheller, Richard Toensing, and Michael Theodore. Graduated in 2004 with a degree composition, and partial degrees in piano, cello and mathematics.