Upon finishing his Bachelors and Masters degrees, he pursued doctoral studies at Florida State University where he defended his dissertation "The Songs of Luigi Gordigiani (1806-1860): 'lo Schuberto italiano'" under Dr. Douglass Seaton, and completed certificates in Early Music (Area of Interest: Music of the Moravian Church, under the direction of Dr. Jeffery T. Kite-Powell), and World Music (Area of Interest: Folk Music of Italy, under the direction of Dr. Dale A. Olsen).