In 2005, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour that left me deaf in my right ear and with facial paralysis. Through radiation treatment, perseverance, and hard work, I regained control of my face, and the tumour was destroyed.

In 2021, life threw another challenge my way—I suffered two ischemic strokes back-to-back, leaving me paralysed on my right side and struggling to speak. Recovery was long and difficult, but it taught me the true meaning of resilience, patience, and reinvention.

By 2024, I had turned my experience into music, composing a Symphonic Memoir—a deeply personal orchestral work that captures the emotional and physical journey of stroke survival.

For over 25 years, I’ve been a music educator, conductor, and mentor, teaching in Australia, the UK, and New Zealand. In 2009, I moved to New Zealand, and by 2012, I was a finalist for the NEITA Excellence in Teaching Award.

Beyond teaching, I’ve founded the Wellington City Concert Band, NZ Youth Symphonic Winds, and the Wellington Band and Orchestra Festival—creating spaces where young musicians can thrive. I also launched the Hoa Project, a mentoring initiative for music teachers across New Zealand.

Having survived both a stroke and a brain tumour, I’ve learned that life is unpredictable—but we can always find ways to adapt, heal, and create something new.

Now, I share my experiences through music, writing, and speaking, helping others navigate adversity, vulnerability, learning, and healing—whether through the power of storytelling or the transformative force of music.