ABOUT
Growing up surrounded by music on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, Dina loved the music of jazz, rock, country, blues as well as musical theater and marching bands. While growing up in all these genres, she always had an affinity for the symphony. After participating in many musicals, singing in choir, performing in marching and concert bands throughout college, working and volunteering for a while, she came back to the love of music and pursued symphony, brass band and swing genres, loving each one.
Currently, Dina is Principal Trumpet of the South Bay Philharmonic in the Bay Area of California. She also sits 3rd chair in Nova Vista Symphony as well as 4th trumpet in Ames Jazz Band. She also mentors with a homeschool band and is a regular in a swing band’s weekly event.
Her dog Eli and 4 goats keep her grounded in the country where she teaches beginning trumpet and brass students.
She continues to hone her own skills from near and far … from her mentors in the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra to the Bay Area’s finest, including Symphony Silicon Valley, San Jose State University and San Francisco Opera & Ballet and L.A. Philharmonic. These mentors have also given her amazing insight to a rounded teaching thought process. She wants to share the musicality of trumpet playing with anyone who’d like to learn and embark on or embellish their musical journey.