William S
Instruments: Cello
Styles: Classical
William S
Instruments: Cello
Styles:
Classical
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 5-80
BM, University of Colorado Boulder (Graduated with Highest Honors) Summer Music Festivals attended: Orford Musique (2016, 2017) Meadowmount School (2010, 2014) Bowdoin International Music Festival (2013) Indiana Summer String Academy (2012) Interlochen Summer Arts Academy (2009)
2017- Graduated with Highest Honors from the University of Colorado Boulder 2015- Recipient of the Tákacs Society, Howard Waltz, and Schwayder-Tákacs Scholarships 2014- Honorable Mention in the University of Puget Sound Concerto-Aria Competition 2013- Finalist in the Seattle Youth Symphony Concerto Competition 2012- Gold Medalist at Seattle Young Artists Music Festival 2011- Winner of the Performing Arts Festival of the Eastside Senior Low Strings Division 2011- Finalist in the WMEA All State Concerto Competion 2011- Winner of the Northwest Orchestra Festival Large Ensemble Division 2010- Soloist with the Eastside Symphony
I recently completed my Bachelor of Music in cello performance at the University of Colorado Boulder, graduating with highest honors. As Seattle native, I have played music all across the United States and Canada, attending such prestigious summer festivals as Académie d’Orford Musique, the Meadowmount School, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Indiana Summer String Academy and Interlochen Center for the Arts. As a passionate chamber musician, I have performed on the Jacobsen Faculty Series at the University of Puget Sound and the Pendulum New Music Series at the University of Colorado Boulder, in addition to working closely with members of the Takács, Tokyo, Shanghai and Altius string quartets. Additional cello studies have taken me to Lisbon, Portugal for intensive studies with famous Russian concert cellist Pavel Gomziakov. My former teachers include David Requiro, Olga Ruvinov, Pavel Gomziakov and Meta Weiss. I perform on a 1942 Romolo Parmeggiani cello made in Cremona, Italy.
I began teaching cello while in high school, serving as a Teaching Assistant to my own teacher and mentor, Olga Ruvinov. I assisted her younger students (ages 6-14) in employing effective practice methods to overcome difficult technical concepts encountered in their main lessons. Having the opportunity to teach under the guidance of an experienced pedagogue was instrumental to my development as a musician and inspired a love of teaching from a very young age. This experience taught me that every child, teen and adult can learn to play and love music and it is the main responsibility of the teacher to inspire and foster this love of music– often by leading through example.
My teaching method incorporates elements of the Russian school of cello playing (what I myself grew up learning) in addition to elements of Suzuki style aural training and Alexander Technique total body awareness. Often teachers just focus on the physical mechanics of cello playing and wait to teach aural skills or music theory until the student enters a collegiate music program. This inhibits the student's natural potential for growth and fails to teach the student comprehensive musicianship. It is my goal as a teacher to synthesize the best elements from every established music method to suit the individual needs of my students.
My role as a teacher is threefold: to engage, to inspire, and to support. I strive to cultivate a relaxed yet focused lesson environment where students feel safe to express themselves musically and freely. As is often the case with classical music, strict or authoritarian teachers can stifle a student's creativity and passion for music. Every student has different strengths and weaknesses and it is not the role of the teacher to conform the student to their teaching style, but to conform their teaching method to suit the student. Teaching is my passion and nothing is more rewarding than inspiring passion for music in others!
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