About
As a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, I have enjoyed performing with the world’s greatest conductors for 25 years. As a soloist, I have performed with the Chicago Symphony under the baton of Charles Dutoit, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, and, described by the New York Times as “a player of formidable expressive gifts,” premiered Dai Fujikura’s Cello Concerto at Lincoln Center. I collaborated with Yo Yo Ma, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, at the Marlboro Music Festival and have taught at DePaul School of Music, Notre Dame University, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Banff Centre for the Arts.
During my tenure at the CSO I developed major interests in contemporary music and improvisation. To me, these practices only enrich and do not exclude each other. Recently I performed in recital at Carolina Performing Arts, was commissioned to write a piece for 11 improvisers for the Instigation Festival in Chicago, and released my record ‘STIR’ with guitarist Bill MacKay on Drag City Records.
I have enjoyed performing the cannon of contemporary classical music and collaborating with living composers creating new works as a member of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) for the past 17 years.
When I was 16, I completely changed my technical setup, a move that I credit my current success as a cellist to. Because I did this at a relative late age, I am very aware of what I changed, how to make such changes, how they come to mature, and I am able to articulate the important aural tradition of technique study. As a member of the CSO, I have adjudicated countless auditions and can offer insightful and effective audition and excerpt coaching.
Before joining the CSO, I completed my studies with Lynn Harrell at the University of Southern California, and Laurence Lesser at the New England Conservatory of Music.
Because my practice encompasses so many divergent styles of music-making, my style of teaching involves focusing on the individual needs of my students on a case by case basis. My goals are for the student to become their own best teacher, and help instigate their individual creativity. My lessons include such topics as:
The classical, contemporary, and orchestral repertoire cannon
Orchestral excerpts and audition training
Effective practice methods
Identifying exercises and studies to help with trouble spots or technique problems; general technique trouble shooting; scale work
Effective methods to learn specialized bow techniques such as spiccato, sautillé, upbow staccato
A healthy and ergonomically sound playing position
How to transition towards an improvisation practice for classical musicians
How a solo improvisation practice can connect you to your own interests, and can be a bio feedback tool for broadening and shaping your own creativity
Writing your own music
Making devised and conceptual work
Extended techniques
Suggestions for pain and injury problems and management
Building a technique from the bottom up, available for young, talented, and motivated students for weekly lessons, as solid basics are the foundation of excellence
Creating a cross-genre musical career
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), Instigation Festival Orchestra, Drag City Records