Hometown:
Lutz, Florida
Education:
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Bachelor of Music (2028)
Bio:
Collin is a second-year undergraduate student of Kurt Muroki at Indiana University. A native of Tampa, Florida, he began playing the double bass in the 6th grade and was a part of many local youth orchestras around the Tampa Bay area. He spent three summers at the Interlochen Arts Camp (’22-’24) and attended the National Orchestral Institute + Festival (’25).
What inspired you to become a musician?
I was originally inspired by my amazing and enthusiastic middle school teacher, who made me fall in love with music and the double bass. Eight years later, and my passion for music is still growing!
Name your favorite composers and/or pieces:
I am a huge fan of Beethoven, Mahler, and Shostakovich. The amount of creativity and personal expression they put into their works is truly inspiring to me. I love listening to their music, and I love playing it even more.
What is an interesting fact about you and/or your instrument?
I grew up on an island in the mangroves of Florida and have been surrounded by water my whole life!
When taking a break from music-making, what is your favorite thing to do?
I enjoy solving Rubik’s cubes, playing pool/billiards, and spending time with my family and friends.
Why did you choose the NRO?
I chose the NRO because of how much repertoire it covers in a single summer. Large orchestral works are my favorite to perform, so being able to play many great pieces of music is a very exciting opportunity to me. My goal is to perform in a professional orchestra, and being exposed to this much repertoire while playing alongside phenomenal musicians around my age will no doubt prepare me for a future job in this career.