Adrian’s story began in the suburban desert town of Glendale, Arizona, just outside the bustling capital city of Phoenix. Soon after, he was adopted into a loving family who provided him opportunities that paved his pathway toward an unconventionally creative career. His father was a South Dakota born Long Islander, while his mother was a Florida-born southerner. Thanks to his parents’ far-reaching roots, Adrian had already trekked tens of thousands of miles across the United States by the time he entered kindergarten.

At the age of six, Adrian relocated with his family to Jacksonville, Florida. Two years later, his father died unexpectedly. Adrian’s mother registered him for piano lessons as a healthy outlet during this dark season. He would continue in his musical training for the next decade, regularly participating in state and national piano competitions, and even delivered an impromptu performance at the Florida Governor’s Mansion during a school trip.

In 2013, at the age of sixteen, Adrian earned both his high school diploma along with an Associate’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Trinity College of Jacksonville. He continued his studies at the same college with dual majors in Business and History—specialties that would influence many of his future projects—graduating in 2015 at the age of eighteen, the youngest in the school’s history.

Adrian worked as a church pianist during his college career, allowing him to quietly establish his professional music career with the publishing and debuts of his first original pieces, Cello Canto No. 1, “The Lullaby,” and then Piano Reverie No. 1. After college, he took on a full-time position as a high school teacher, while simultaneously producing his first full-length music album, The Pirates of Penzance: Revamped and Revisited. The album was released in December 2016 to the accolades of various stars who notably associated with prior national and international productions of the original operetta, including Robby Benson, Karla DeVito, and Patricia Routledge, among others.

While celebrating the growth of his budding musical career, Adrian found the need to make an important career decision. While teaching could be fulfilling, he realized it was not meant for him permanently. He yearned for better opportunities that allowed for him to continue developing his creative talents and his own knowledge. He eventually left the classroom for the aviation world, reuniting at last with one of his earliest childhood loves.

Armed with his creative energy coupled with a more fulfilling aviation career, Adrian found the proper balance he desired which now allows him to inspire others. Today, Adrian presents himself with his reinvented personal brand: FarawayHolmes™. He aims to share his art and adventures through this metamorphosing identity, faraway from mundanity, nestled on the shores of inspiration.