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2013-Eastman School of Music Honors Chamber Music Competition Winner
2011-Louisville Orchestra Young Artists Concerto Competition Winner
2011-YPAS Concerto Competition Winner
I started out teaching when I moved to Chicago and have since enjoyed working with students of different ages with different levels of experience. Whether students pick up the cello with goals to pursue a career in music or decide to start playing as a hobby, I am passionate about working together to achieve their goals and to enjoy the process along the way. I encourage consistent and regular practice and emphasize a holistic, kinesthetically based mentality and approach to learning the cello, promoting healthy and happy cellists!
I believe that playing the cello should be effortless natural . A student will play their best when they feel at ease with the instrument and discover how naturally and physically rewarding playing the cello can be. The materials I use with students depend completely on the student’s current playing level. With complete beginners I tend to work from the Suzuki Books or Hal Leonard’s Essential Element books and in addition supply a collection of specialized exercises, scales and warm ups focused on developing fluid technique from the start. With more experienced students in the beginning, I select solo repertoire based on the students ability, needs and preferences and I also supply them with various exercises, scales and warmups for daily practice.
Individuality, personality and enjoyment are three things that I value highly. Each student has their own motivations for learning the instrument, their own personal goals with the instrument and their own personalities. Music is such a personal, emotional and intimate form of expression, and while there are technical aspects of playing the cello that require a more analytical approach, I believe that students must remain true to themselves, to their respective motivations and to their individuality to discover their own sense of fulfillment and the joy of playing music.