Paul has a God-given, life-long love of music. As a very small child, he loved listening to and figuring out hymns and Christmas carols that he heard around the house and at church. Not surprisingly, sacred music has always had a special place in Paul’s heart. He was very fortunate to receive his first piano lessons from his aunt, the organist at the church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that their family helped to found in 1845. At eight years of age, while attending a concert of his future high school’s symphonic band, conducted by his future band director, teacher and life-long friend Donald K. Smith, Paul was first smitten with an undying love for trumpet and cornet, and brass music in general. This condition has made his former membership in the Salvation Army Baltimore Area Band, under Bandmaster Ron Smith, and his current membership in the National Capital Band personally very rewarding. The expression, “God created music because He likes it!” is a favorite, which makes Paul very grateful to be a musician.

Paul finds personal satisfaction in serving others, and especially in serving those who have served America. He has sounded Taps at many military funerals and wreath-laying ceremonies, half of which were performed as bugler for the United States Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard, at Arlington National Cemetery and elsewhere. He greatly values his diverse musical and non-musical opportunities to serve America as an enthusiastic member of Team Coast Guard.

Paul received his bachelor’s degree in trumpet performance from the University of Maryland School of Music, where his teachers were Emerson Head and Chris Gekker. In addition to being an enthusiastic music teacher, Paul is an active free-lance musician. He resides in Crofton, Maryland with his wife, the former Jean Obear, a Pediatric Registered Nurse at Prince George’s Hospital Center, whom he first met in the University of Maryland Marching Band. Jean and Paul have two children: Michael, a sergeant in the United States Army, and Rebecca, an equestrian instructor.