So you want to know more about me?

This cheesy picture of me was taken by my mother at a rest stop on I-35. We had just passed through Oklahoma and entered Texas on our way to SMU. Sorry for the poor scan quality, but it was done on a Mac. What can I say?

I'm always happier when people know the real me, which is what I'm trying to convey here. If you know me, you know that I'm kind and caring and love to laugh. I love life, but more than anything, I love God. He has put so many blessings into my life, and as I drink it all in, I realize how important (and how challenging) it is to live my life as a prayer. I want my life to be a gift that I can give back to God when it's all over and that He'll be pleased with.

I have been in education all my life and hope to remain so. After graduating from Creighton Prep (where I received many of my core values thanks to the Jesuits teaching me to be a "man for others,") I traveled to Dallas, Texas for college. I received my degree in Voice Performance in May of 1999 from Southern Methodist University (SMU)--summa cum laude with honors in the liberal arts and minors in German, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Currently, I work at Omaha North High School as a part-time vocal music teacher, which means I direct the Treble Choir and Madrigal Singers, and give lessons to quite a few of the advanced students. I am pursuing a Master of Secondary Education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha in the first ever TAP (Teacher Academy Project) cohort group.

I do a lot of things with the copious free time that a teacher's schedule allows me--mostly musical. On Sunday evenings from 6 to 9pm, I work at Classical 90.7 KVNO as an on-air host and programmer for "Sunday Evening Classics." I maintain a small vocal studio of about four students and also perform for weddings and such. In the spring, I will be singing in the Opera Omaha chorus in the I Pagliacci / Carmina Burana double bill. (If you're wondering what I sound like, you can check out a few digitizations I've put up.) Additionally, I am involved in my church--St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church--as a youth leader (or "godly parent") and a member of the young adult ministry. I live with several other young adults from St.Vincent so we can have spiritual community, pray for one another and the world, support each other, and have fun! Check out the 333 Website for more info!

As far as my interests go, I love things that put me in touch with the divine and with other people. I very much enjoy nature and try to get outside whenever I can to walk or jog or just stop and smell the roses. I've rekindled an old love for the sport of racquetball (even though I'm pretty awful :-) I enjoy traveling, and can now say I've been to the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota! Somehow, it doesn't compare to what I saw in Europe, though, where I got to know the people and the culture of Austria and Germany. I STILL hope to find out if I truly AM related to the great 20th Century composer. (For all you music buffs out there, yes I AM named after him, and for arguments sake, let's call him a distant cousin :-) For some of my favorite music, books, movies, quotes and the like, check out my list of favorites.

Thanks for taking the time to find out about me. Check out my faith page to find out who fills the center of my being.

Peace in Christ

Paul