The son of a piano teacher, he received his first formal musical training on trumpet in the public schools.
He studied composition under John Bavicchi and Rudi Martinus van Dijk at Berklee College of Music where he received his BA in 1977, John Thow and Theodore Antoniou at Boston University where he received his Masters in Music in 1980 and later with Gunther Schuller.
An intermediate period included Brass Quintet #2, War Songs (for voice and taped electronic sounds), and Variations (computer).
[citation needed] Recent works include Brass Quintet #3, Symphony: Challenger and Proper Motion (trio for flute, clarinet, piano) which had its world premiere at the Park City and Salt Lake City International Music Festival in 2005.
Recent pieces include and so on (for pianist Jason Hardink) and Three Scenes for Woodwind Quintet (premiered by Intermezzo).