Alyssa has been interested in music for as long as she can remember. She began singing and picking out simple tunes on the piano at the age of three. Alyssa joined the children's choral group entitled J.O.Y Singers in kindergarten and performed with that group from 1990-1994. In 1993, she began piano lessons, which she continued to take until 1996, when she took up the flute and joined her middle school band from 1996-1999. In 1997, Alyssa earned awards in the Wisconsin State Solo and Ensemble Festival for flute duet and flute solo (a 2nd place and a 1st place, respectively), and earned a 1st place award in the same festival for a vocal solo. She also earned a 1st place in state during the same year for the Listening List Competition, which involved identifying several classical pieces, the composers, and the time periods.
Alyssa remained in choir during high school but not in the school band, and focused on singing. She moved to Eugene, Oregon in 2000 and studied voice with David Chase from 2000-2001. In 2001, following a recording session with her vocal teacher, Alyssa discovered her interest in music technology and recording. She began experimenting with sequencing software and recording devices. In 2002, she recorded a vocal album in her bedroom using nothing more than a disc recorder, a keyboard, and a microphone. Her interest in this field continued, and in 2005, she decided to take the Music Technology courses at Lane Community College.
While at Lane Community College, Alyssa was drawn to music theory and composition and began the music core studies in the fall of 2006. She received the Music Technology Award her first year as a music major and the Spotlight Award her second year as music major for her performance in the music core studies. In the fall of 2008, she transferred to the University of Oregon to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in Music Technology and electronic composition.
She has studied Composition with Terry McQuilkin and David Crumb, and electronic composition with Jeffrey Stolet. In June 2009 she was a member of the Oregon Bach Festival Composers' Symposium under the direction of Robert Kyr. Her works have been performed in many venues at the University of Oregon, including Future Music Oregon, Composition recitals, The Oregon Bach Festival Composers' Symposium, and a Flute and Electronic Music collaboration concert. Alyssa will graduate from the University of Oregon in the fall of 2010 and pursue graduate studies in the field of Music Technology and Composition.
I have a wide variety of influences, most notably Mozart and Nobuo Uematsu.
