A Chicagoland native, Adam began playing viola in his public school's orchestra program in 4th grade. A few years in, something clicked, and it quickly became an obsession. Seeking private instruction, he added violin to the mix, eventually working with Desiree Ruhstrat at the Music Institute of Chicago, studying both instruments while playing viola in youth orchestras, including two years with the Chicago Youth Symphony.

By senior year of high school, Adam committed fully to his first love, the viola. He went on to study with Stephen Wyrczynski at the Peabody Conservatory, completed his degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music under Mark Jackobs, and later studied with Roger Chase while playing with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

Along the way, Adam studied at the Aspen Music Festival (with Victoria Chiang), the Music Masters Course in Kazusa, Japan, Encore School for Strings (with Robert Vernon), the Sarasota Music Festival, and Kneisel Hall. He has played in masterclasses for Kim Kashkashian, Hellen Callus, Barbara Westphal, and James Dunham; been coached by members of the Juilliard and Cleveland String Quartets; and performed under conductors including Bernard Haitink, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Alan Gilbert, and Riccardo Muti.

That training shapes how Adam plays — his own experience shapes how he teaches. Adam is queer-identifying and a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. He is also neurodivergent, which fuels a deep empathy: the comfort and wellbeing of those around him matters enormously, and that care is at the heart of his teaching. He started giving lessons in high school and has loved it ever since, meeting each student where they are and creating a safe space for them to grow into their own musical voice.

Outside of teaching, Adam enjoys a good cup of coffee, neat eyewear, niche fragrance, meditation, yoga, hitting the gym, Goodwill thrifting, checking out exhibits at The Art Institute of Chicago, seeing the CSO perform, mingling at parties, going dancing, eating out and cooking at home — and seeing all the quality and humor of life through a lens of childlike enthusiasm.