He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Dalhousie University in 1982 then continued Studies at McGill University in their Graduate Composition program, working with Alcides Lanza and John Rea. He returned to Halifax in late 1985 and taught trumpet, theory and history at the Maritime Conservatory of Music. In 1990 he began teaching in the public school system in Halifax. His duties included the conducting of the Halifax Boys Honour Choir, The Halifax Schools Symphony Orchestra, and Soundtrax (Halifax’s honour choir for high school students).