The Cello Class

The cello class usually consists of 13 - 14 cellists in the following programs: DMA, MM, MMusEd, BM, BME, and BA double majors.

Cellists are placed in chamber ensembles if they desire - currently we have several piano trios and quartets, several string quartets and string trios. We have a cello class every Tuesday, an opportunity to perform for colleagues and to receive feedback. In addition, there is a string performance class every Thursday, an opportunity to perform for all string majors.

Guests are often invited to the cello class and to give master classes. Artist-teachers have included: Bernard Greenhouse, Janos Starker, Ann Marie Morgan, of Olde Friends Artists and formerly of the Peabody Conservatory, Yo-Yo Ma, Jeffrey Solow (Temple University), Timothy Eddy (the Juilliard School), Jesus Castro-Balbi, and Torlief Thedeen and Alban Gerhardt (two of Europe's premiere cellists.

The cello class pioneered a new "institution" at the College of Music. We "adopted a composer," senior, Alex Miller, who visited cello class each week to learn the compositional techniques regarding our instrument. This culminated in a recording of his work, Triple Sonata, performed by all cellists in the studio.

Andras Feyer of the Takacs Quartet and I have also instituted the concept of team-teaching – every year, two graduate students are selected to be team-taught by the two teachers.

We hope that you will join us at the College of Music!