Empowering high school musicians, performers, and creators to reach their college and career goals through personalized expert application and audition advising.
missionInspiring students to find harmony between who they are, where they want to go, and how their talents can be used to make meaningful impact.
VISIONHi, I’m Adam.
“Music is just the means." My high school choir teacher repeated those words often, though it took me years to understand them. Through music, I've traveled the world, built lifelong relationships, earned a living creating music with others, and discovered work that I genuinely love. Today, I help aspiring musicians and artists find educational pathways that allow them to do the same.
I already knew I wanted to pursue a career in music when my high school counselor called me into her office at the start of senior year to discuss my future plans, but I lacked clarity about exactly what that path would look like. Like many high school counselors, she was responsible for hundreds of students and had limited experience with the unique demands of music school admissions. Like many aspiring music students, I quickly realized that I was navigating a highly specialized process largely on my own.
My application process looked a lot like my backpack at the time: disorganized. A series of poor audition experiences (oh, the stories I could tell), combined with written application materials that lacked depth, focus, and thoughtfulness, resulted in just one acceptance letter. Fortunately, that acceptance came from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where I had an exceptional student experience. Still, having only one option left me feeling that my future had been decided for me rather than by me.
“…having only one option left me feeling that my future had been decided for me rather than by me.”
After spending eight years teaching music at the middle and high school levels, I began my current work as a high school counselor at a high-achieving high school in the Pacific Northwest. Over the past six years, I’ve learned the ins and outs of the competitive and ever-evolving college admissions landscape. Having supported nearly 600 students through the college application process, I understand both sides of admissions for musicians: the artistic demands of auditions and portfolios and the academic considerations that shape admissions decisions.
“I understand both sides of admissions for musicians: the artistic demands of auditions and portfolios and the academic considerations that shape admissions decisions.”
A piece of application advice I frequently give my students is to adopt a “go deep, not wide” strategy. With this in mind, I took a page out of my own book and launched Cadence College Counseling to provide individualized college counseling to aspiring music school students. My experiences as a student, musician, educator, and counselor come together in perfect harmony, allowing me to guide aspiring artists with both personal understanding and professional expertise.
My goal is simple: to help talented young musicians and artists approach their college application journey with clarity, confidence, and a sense of direction. Together, we’ll create a personalized plan and a cadence that allows you to make meaningful progress without losing sight of what matters most.
Experience you can trust.
Education
Bachelor of Music
Choral Music Education, Voice Emphasis
Master of Counseling
School Counseling
Certificate
College Counseling
Professional Organization Memberships
Ready to Begin?
Let's find
your path.
Schedule a free 30-minute consultation call — no pressure, no commitment. Just a conversation about where you are and where you want to go.