Cello Faculty

Praised as "passionate and elegant" by The New York Times, AMY SUE BARSTON, has performed as a soloist and chamber musician on stages all over the world, including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Ravinia, Bargemusic, Caramoor, Haan Hall (Jerusalem), The Banff Centre (Canada), The International Musicians Seminar (England), The Power House (Australia), and Chicago's Symphony Center.
At age seventeen, she appeared as soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on live television, was the Grand Prize winner in the Society of American Musicians' Competition, and won First Place and the Audience Prize in the Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition.
Beginning at age three, Amy studied with Nell Novak at the Music Institute of Chicago, Eleonore Schoenfeld at USC, and Joel Krosnick at Juilliard, where she earned her Masters degree. She also worked with Yo Yo Ma, Gary Hoffman, Ralph Kirshbaum, Tim Eddy, David Geringas, and Pinchas Zukerman.
Amy has performed as soloist with the Chicago Symphony, the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, the Prometheus Chamber Orchestra, the Rockford Symphony, the USC Symphony, the Westchester Symphony, and the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra, among many others. She made her first solo appearance with an orchestra in Guelph, Canada when she was twelve.
Amy is artistic director of the Canandaigua Lake Music Festival in New York, and the cellist of The Corigliano Quartet, which has been hailed by Strad Magazine as having "abundant commitment and mastery," and whose recent Naxos CD was named one of the top two recordings of the year by both the New Yorker and Gramophone Magazine. Her piano trio, Trio Vela, performs regularly at Bargemusic in New York City. She also performs regularly in duos, trios, and quartets with the world's most celebrated fiddler, Mark O'Connor. Amy has performed sonatas and chamber music with many of the world's leading musicians, including Leon Fleisher, Jon Kimura Parker, Arnold Steinhardt, Bernard Greenhouse, and Ani Kavafian.
Amy is also a devoted teacher: in her home, at the New York School for Strings, as a guest teacher at Juilliard, and at numerous summer music festivals. Several of her students commute for lessons from hundreds of miles away, some from as far away as Alaska and Japan. Amy's upcoming schedule includes solo and chamber music performances in England, Sydney, New Zealand, Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, Salt Lake, Wisconsin, Rochester, Denver, Chicago, and Germany. Amy also has a brand new CD out and available, which she had the honor to record with Grammy Award winning contemporary classical music producer, Judith Sherman.
At age seventeen, she appeared as soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on live television, was the Grand Prize winner in the Society of American Musicians' Competition, and won First Place and the Audience Prize in the Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition.
Beginning at age three, Amy studied with Nell Novak at the Music Institute of Chicago, Eleonore Schoenfeld at USC, and Joel Krosnick at Juilliard, where she earned her Masters degree. She also worked with Yo Yo Ma, Gary Hoffman, Ralph Kirshbaum, Tim Eddy, David Geringas, and Pinchas Zukerman.
Amy has performed as soloist with the Chicago Symphony, the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, the Prometheus Chamber Orchestra, the Rockford Symphony, the USC Symphony, the Westchester Symphony, and the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra, among many others. She made her first solo appearance with an orchestra in Guelph, Canada when she was twelve.
Amy is artistic director of the Canandaigua Lake Music Festival in New York, and the cellist of The Corigliano Quartet, which has been hailed by Strad Magazine as having "abundant commitment and mastery," and whose recent Naxos CD was named one of the top two recordings of the year by both the New Yorker and Gramophone Magazine. Her piano trio, Trio Vela, performs regularly at Bargemusic in New York City. She also performs regularly in duos, trios, and quartets with the world's most celebrated fiddler, Mark O'Connor. Amy has performed sonatas and chamber music with many of the world's leading musicians, including Leon Fleisher, Jon Kimura Parker, Arnold Steinhardt, Bernard Greenhouse, and Ani Kavafian.
Amy is also a devoted teacher: in her home, at the New York School for Strings, as a guest teacher at Juilliard, and at numerous summer music festivals. Several of her students commute for lessons from hundreds of miles away, some from as far away as Alaska and Japan. Amy's upcoming schedule includes solo and chamber music performances in England, Sydney, New Zealand, Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles, Salt Lake, Wisconsin, Rochester, Denver, Chicago, and Germany. Amy also has a brand new CD out and available, which she had the honor to record with Grammy Award winning contemporary classical music producer, Judith Sherman.

PAMELA DEVENPORT, SAA Registered Cello Teacher Trainer, teaches long term Cello Suzuki Pedagogy at the School for Strings in New York City, NY. A very active workshop, lecturer, and institute clinician, she holds a Diploma in Professional Studies Program, and Advanced Integration Work from the Brennan School of Energy Healing, along with a Master’s Degree in Cello Performance. Ms. Devenport has previously been guest lecturer at many national and international music conferences, including Australia, Italy, England, Korea, and New Zealand. She was formerly on the cello faculty of Georgia State and the Hartt School, University of Hartford. In 2007, she published her first book, Cellostart, and is currently working on her second book to be released when the time is right.

AVI FRIEDLANDER is the director of the Barston Suzuki Center at the Music Institute of Chicago, a teacher trainer candidate and founder and former director of Suzuki Talent Education Program of Birmingham. He received his Master’s and Bachelor’s of Music performance degrees from The University of Michigan, and pursued his professional studies degree from The Cleveland Institute of Music. Mr. Friedlander is the former Assistant Principal cellist of the Atlanta Opera, former member of The New World Symphony and former Adjunct Professor of Cello at Emory University in Atlanta. He has been trained in Suzuki Methods with Dr. Tanya Carey, Pam Devenport, Rick Mooney and Gilda Barston. Mr. Friedlander has also been trained in cello pedagogy with Irene Sharp and teaching group classes with Carey Beth Hockett and Terry Durbin. His primary teachers have included Anthony Elliott, Stephen Geber, Tanya Carey and David Premo and has also studied with Richard Aaron and Hans Jensen. Mr. Friedlander has studied improvisation methods with Eugene Friesen from the Berkley College and performs and records music from classical to rock. Mr. Friedlander currently performs with the String Theory Birmingham and Sunday Jazz Night and writes his own arrangments for solo cello of rock tunes from Jimi Hendrix to Pearl Jam.

Toronto native RACHEL GAUNTLETT is a cellist and early childhood educator with a celebrated background in music performance, teaching, and arts administration. Her performances have been broadcast on CBC radio and taken her to Lincoln Center in New York City.
As an orchestral musician, Rachel has held principal cello positions with Sneak Peak Orchestra (Toronto) and l’Orchestre de la Francophonie (Montréal) among others. Rachel performed as a full time member of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra for three consecutive seasons (2011 to 2014).
As an arts administrator, Rachel has worked for some of Canada’s most prestigious arts organizations, including the Canadian Opera Company and Esprit Orchestra, where she was artistic administrator and manager for four consecutive seasons (2014 to 2018).
Rachel’s true passion is teaching. She is regularly in demand as a guest clinician at workshops and institutes across the country. More recently, Rachel has served as a guest faculty member at the Royal Conservatory of Music and Wilfrid Laurier University. Her teaching has taken her throughout North America to Chicago, Austin, Montréal, San Diego, and Boston.
Rachel is deeply grateful to her Suzuki teacher trainers—Barbara Wampner, Carey Beth Hockett, Danette Warren, David Evenchick, Pam Devenport, Rick Mooney, Tanya Carey, and Sharon & Dorothy Jones—for their generosity, wisdom, and inspiring commitment to learning. A lifelong learner, Rachel continues to seek out opportunities to further enrich her teaching.
Rachel is currently on faculty at Etobicoke Suzuki Music.
As an orchestral musician, Rachel has held principal cello positions with Sneak Peak Orchestra (Toronto) and l’Orchestre de la Francophonie (Montréal) among others. Rachel performed as a full time member of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra for three consecutive seasons (2011 to 2014).
As an arts administrator, Rachel has worked for some of Canada’s most prestigious arts organizations, including the Canadian Opera Company and Esprit Orchestra, where she was artistic administrator and manager for four consecutive seasons (2014 to 2018).
Rachel’s true passion is teaching. She is regularly in demand as a guest clinician at workshops and institutes across the country. More recently, Rachel has served as a guest faculty member at the Royal Conservatory of Music and Wilfrid Laurier University. Her teaching has taken her throughout North America to Chicago, Austin, Montréal, San Diego, and Boston.
Rachel is deeply grateful to her Suzuki teacher trainers—Barbara Wampner, Carey Beth Hockett, Danette Warren, David Evenchick, Pam Devenport, Rick Mooney, Tanya Carey, and Sharon & Dorothy Jones—for their generosity, wisdom, and inspiring commitment to learning. A lifelong learner, Rachel continues to seek out opportunities to further enrich her teaching.
Rachel is currently on faculty at Etobicoke Suzuki Music.

Prior to joining the faculty at Western Springs School of Talent Education and the Naperville Suzuki School, SALLY GROSS was a cello teacher with the Suzuki String School of Guelph, Ontario since 1981 and became the Artistic Coordinator in 1989. In her 30 years of teaching she has seen many young cellists grow up into extraordinary adults. Watching and learning from their development, both musically and emotionally has given her powerful insights into teaching.
Sally grew up in the Chicago area, graduating from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Music in Performance degree, where her teacher was Marc Johnson. She received her Masters of Music in Performance with an emphasis in Suzuki Pedagogy from Ithaca College where she did her cello Suzuki teacher training with Carey Beth Hockett. In addition to completing all the cello teacher training units many times over, Sally also completed six violin teacher training units with Sanford and Joan Reuning.
Ms. Gross has been a Registered Teacher Trainer for the Suzuki Association of the Americas since 1990 and has taught numerous short term Institute courses as well as many years of apprenticeship courses in southern Ontario and the Chicago area. Sally is pleased that she has been able to support and guide so many new Suzuki cello teachers. She is an active clinician throughout Canada and the United States, especially Ontario and Illinois. She is a founding director of the Southwestern Ontario Suzuki Institute and will be celebrating her 30th year in that position in 2013.
In September, 2004 Sally joined the faculty at the Western Springs School of Talent Education and the Naperville Suzuki School bringing her expertise in cello teaching and teacher training to the Chicagoland Suzuki community. In 2008 Sally was the Coordinator for the Suzuki Association of the Americas National Conference and continues to serve the SAA through committee work.
In 2010 Ms. Gross was one of 9 teachers in the country awarded the Suzuki Association of the Americas Certificate of Achievement, an award given to teachers that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to excellence in their teaching.
Sally grew up in the Chicago area, graduating from Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Music in Performance degree, where her teacher was Marc Johnson. She received her Masters of Music in Performance with an emphasis in Suzuki Pedagogy from Ithaca College where she did her cello Suzuki teacher training with Carey Beth Hockett. In addition to completing all the cello teacher training units many times over, Sally also completed six violin teacher training units with Sanford and Joan Reuning.
Ms. Gross has been a Registered Teacher Trainer for the Suzuki Association of the Americas since 1990 and has taught numerous short term Institute courses as well as many years of apprenticeship courses in southern Ontario and the Chicago area. Sally is pleased that she has been able to support and guide so many new Suzuki cello teachers. She is an active clinician throughout Canada and the United States, especially Ontario and Illinois. She is a founding director of the Southwestern Ontario Suzuki Institute and will be celebrating her 30th year in that position in 2013.
In September, 2004 Sally joined the faculty at the Western Springs School of Talent Education and the Naperville Suzuki School bringing her expertise in cello teaching and teacher training to the Chicagoland Suzuki community. In 2008 Sally was the Coordinator for the Suzuki Association of the Americas National Conference and continues to serve the SAA through committee work.
In 2010 Ms. Gross was one of 9 teachers in the country awarded the Suzuki Association of the Americas Certificate of Achievement, an award given to teachers that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to excellence in their teaching.

NANCY HAIR is known both as a performer and as a teacher. She received her musical training at Indiana University, the Hartt School of Music, and Ithaca Talent Education where she studied the Suzuki method of teaching. Her teachers include Janos Starker, Raya Garbousova, Bob Gardner, Yehuda Hanani, George Neikrug, and Timothy Eddy. Nancy performs frequently in Boston with the Lyric Opera, Opera New England and the Boston Ballet as well as other area orchestra and chamber music groups. She is on the faculty of the New England Conservatory Preparatory division as well as having a home studio in Newton. Nancy is a registered teacher trainer of the Suzuki method and travels throughout the United States and beyond giving recitals, workshops and master classes for both teachers and students.

Cellist, artist-teacher and SAA registered Cello Teacher Trainer, ABBEY HANSEN, maintains an active teaching and performing schedule in the Cleveland area. Ms. Hansen serves as full-time faculty at the at the Sato Center for Suzuki Studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music. In addition to her work with Suzuki students, she conducts a two-year graduate Suzuki teacher-training program, part of a unique dual Master’s degree in Cello Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy. Prior to her appointment at CIM, Ms. Hansen served on faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago, Rockford College Music Academy, Community School of the Arts at Northern Illinois University and Music Academy at Lawrence University.
An in-demand guest clinician, Ms. Hansen has taught and lectured at workshops and institutes in Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Colorado and Haiti. Ms. Hansen has also performed in several chamber music ensembles in the Chicagoland area and has been featured on faculty and alumni recitals throughout the Midwest. In 2006, she had the privilege of performing in a friendship concert at the Suzuki Talent Education Institute in Matsumoto, Japan. In 2016 Ms. Hansen became the youngest ever registered Suzuki Cello Teacher Trainer. She is also the recipient of the Suzuki Association of the Americas’ Level 1 Certificate of Achievement for excellence in Suzuki education.
Ms. Hansen’s students have served as principal players in Chicago area youth orchestras, Interlochen and Blue Lake summer camps, and were selected to join the Suzuki Youth Orchestra of the Americas. Hansen Studio cellists have placed in Chicagoland competitions including Granquist, Protege Philharmonic, Rockford Women’s Club and Midwest Young Artists and have continued their cello studies at top universities such as Amhurst, Drake, Brown and University of Illinois.
Ms. Hansen grew up in Iowa City, IA and began her cello studies in the public school system. She graduated from Lawrence University earning a Bachelors of Music in cello performance. She continued her education as a Dutton Low Strings Fellow at Northern Illinois University, earning both a Masters of Music (Cello Performance and Pedagogy) and a Performers Certificate. Ms. Hansen has registered Suzuki training with Gilda Barston, Pam Devenport, Nancy Hair, Carol Tarr and Jean Dexter. Her primary cello teachers include Betsy Hawtrey, Janet Anthony and Marc Johnson. Ms. Hansen lives in Cleveland Heights, OH with her husband, two Suzuki cellist children, and two Havanese dogs.
An in-demand guest clinician, Ms. Hansen has taught and lectured at workshops and institutes in Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Colorado and Haiti. Ms. Hansen has also performed in several chamber music ensembles in the Chicagoland area and has been featured on faculty and alumni recitals throughout the Midwest. In 2006, she had the privilege of performing in a friendship concert at the Suzuki Talent Education Institute in Matsumoto, Japan. In 2016 Ms. Hansen became the youngest ever registered Suzuki Cello Teacher Trainer. She is also the recipient of the Suzuki Association of the Americas’ Level 1 Certificate of Achievement for excellence in Suzuki education.
Ms. Hansen’s students have served as principal players in Chicago area youth orchestras, Interlochen and Blue Lake summer camps, and were selected to join the Suzuki Youth Orchestra of the Americas. Hansen Studio cellists have placed in Chicagoland competitions including Granquist, Protege Philharmonic, Rockford Women’s Club and Midwest Young Artists and have continued their cello studies at top universities such as Amhurst, Drake, Brown and University of Illinois.
Ms. Hansen grew up in Iowa City, IA and began her cello studies in the public school system. She graduated from Lawrence University earning a Bachelors of Music in cello performance. She continued her education as a Dutton Low Strings Fellow at Northern Illinois University, earning both a Masters of Music (Cello Performance and Pedagogy) and a Performers Certificate. Ms. Hansen has registered Suzuki training with Gilda Barston, Pam Devenport, Nancy Hair, Carol Tarr and Jean Dexter. Her primary cello teachers include Betsy Hawtrey, Janet Anthony and Marc Johnson. Ms. Hansen lives in Cleveland Heights, OH with her husband, two Suzuki cellist children, and two Havanese dogs.

CAREY BETH HOCKETT has been actively involved in the Suzuki world for more than 30 years. She taught at the Ithaca Talent Education School and then for the London Suzuki Group and has recently joined the faculty of the Colburn School in Los Angeles. She was a member of the International Suzuki Association’s Cello Committee and served as repertoire consultant to the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music. She has given numerous workshops for teachers and children across Europe and America is well known for her work with groups of all sizes. She is the founder of Corkybird Enterprizes, which produces creative designs for music education.

AARON KAPLAN, conductor and cellist, enjoys a multifaceted musical career as a conductor, musical director, cellist, music educator, and arranger. Aaron earned a master’s degree in orchestral conducting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign under the tutelage of Donald Schleicher. He earned his bachelor’s degree in cello performance and bachelor’s degree in music education with high honors also from the University of Illinois.
Aaron is currently the assistant orchestra director at Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South High Schools in Northbrook and Glenview, IL where he co-teaches the orchestra classes, is the assistant conductor of the Glenbrook Symphony Orchestra, writes arrangements for both schools’ annual variety shows, and conducts the annual Glenbrook musical. He is also on the faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago where he conducts the Preludio Orchestra and is the assistant director of the Chicago Suzuki Institute. Previous positions include: Interim Conductor of the Quad City Youth Symphony Orchestras and Music Director/Conductor for the Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony and Community Orchestra in Springfield, Illinois. In 2013, Aaron stepped in at the last minute to conduct the opening night performance of The Nutcracker with Sinfonia da Camera and the Champaign Urbana Ballet. Aaron has continued his conducting studies at workshops in the United States and in Europe with Gustav Meier and Larry Rachleff, and has conducted the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic in the Czech Republic and the New Symphony of Bulgaria in Sofia.
A passionate advocate of the American musical theatre, Aaron has been the music director/conductor for over 45 musicals (with complete orchestration) including West Side Story, Les Misérables, RENT, Chess, Guys & Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Producers. He was invited to conduct the orchestra for the Illinois High School Theatre Festival All-State Production twice; in 2013 for Memphis (premiere amateur production) and in 2017 for Sweeney Todd. Aaron also conducted the musical productions for the Allerton Barn Festival (Monticello, IL) in both 2013 (Of Thee I Sing) and 2014 (On the Twentieth Century).
An active cellist, Aaron is currently a member of Sinfonia da Camera and the Heartland Festival Orchestra. He has also performed with the Champaign-Urbana Symphony, Quad City Symphony, and Illinois Symphony Orchestra. He has served as a guest cello and conductor clinician for the East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra, Urbana Chamber Music Workshop, Allerton Chamber Music Symposium, Illinois Summer Youth Music and the Chicago Suzuki Institute. As a freelance arranger, Aaron has written arrangements and orchestrations for numerous musical ensembles including Sinfonia da Camera, musical theatre cabarets, and the Chicago-based band Marina City.
Aaron began studying cello at the age of 5 with Holly Compton, and then continued with Blake Brasch, Ani Aznavoorian, and Brandon Vamos, and chamber music with Stefan Milenkovich and the Pacifica Quartet. His conducting mentors include Gustav Meier, Larry Rachleff, and his teacher, Donald Schleicher.
Aaron is currently the assistant orchestra director at Glenbrook North and Glenbrook South High Schools in Northbrook and Glenview, IL where he co-teaches the orchestra classes, is the assistant conductor of the Glenbrook Symphony Orchestra, writes arrangements for both schools’ annual variety shows, and conducts the annual Glenbrook musical. He is also on the faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago where he conducts the Preludio Orchestra and is the assistant director of the Chicago Suzuki Institute. Previous positions include: Interim Conductor of the Quad City Youth Symphony Orchestras and Music Director/Conductor for the Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony and Community Orchestra in Springfield, Illinois. In 2013, Aaron stepped in at the last minute to conduct the opening night performance of The Nutcracker with Sinfonia da Camera and the Champaign Urbana Ballet. Aaron has continued his conducting studies at workshops in the United States and in Europe with Gustav Meier and Larry Rachleff, and has conducted the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic in the Czech Republic and the New Symphony of Bulgaria in Sofia.
A passionate advocate of the American musical theatre, Aaron has been the music director/conductor for over 45 musicals (with complete orchestration) including West Side Story, Les Misérables, RENT, Chess, Guys & Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Producers. He was invited to conduct the orchestra for the Illinois High School Theatre Festival All-State Production twice; in 2013 for Memphis (premiere amateur production) and in 2017 for Sweeney Todd. Aaron also conducted the musical productions for the Allerton Barn Festival (Monticello, IL) in both 2013 (Of Thee I Sing) and 2014 (On the Twentieth Century).
An active cellist, Aaron is currently a member of Sinfonia da Camera and the Heartland Festival Orchestra. He has also performed with the Champaign-Urbana Symphony, Quad City Symphony, and Illinois Symphony Orchestra. He has served as a guest cello and conductor clinician for the East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra, Urbana Chamber Music Workshop, Allerton Chamber Music Symposium, Illinois Summer Youth Music and the Chicago Suzuki Institute. As a freelance arranger, Aaron has written arrangements and orchestrations for numerous musical ensembles including Sinfonia da Camera, musical theatre cabarets, and the Chicago-based band Marina City.
Aaron began studying cello at the age of 5 with Holly Compton, and then continued with Blake Brasch, Ani Aznavoorian, and Brandon Vamos, and chamber music with Stefan Milenkovich and the Pacifica Quartet. His conducting mentors include Gustav Meier, Larry Rachleff, and his teacher, Donald Schleicher.

PHILIP LEE currently teaches at Music For Youth and for the DePaul University Community Music Division. Philip began his studies at the age of 7 at the Music Institute of Chicago with Blake Brasch. Philip went on to study at the EastmanSchool of Music with David Ying, DePaul University with Brant Taylor, and Indiana
University with Peter Stumpf. As a performer, he has previously been a member of the
Columbus Indiana Philharmonic Orchestra, the Owensboro Symphony, and the Civic
Orchestra of Chicago. Philip would like to credit his teachers for being lifelong inspirations
who have helped to cultivate his passion and love for music.
University with Peter Stumpf. As a performer, he has previously been a member of the
Columbus Indiana Philharmonic Orchestra, the Owensboro Symphony, and the Civic
Orchestra of Chicago. Philip would like to credit his teachers for being lifelong inspirations
who have helped to cultivate his passion and love for music.

CAROL OURADA has been teaching in the Wheaton College Suzuki program for more than thirty years and early childhood music for eighteen years. She teaches primarily cello, but also violin, viola, music reading, cello choir, early childhood music and coordinates. In addition, Carol teaches in Wheaton College’s outreach program, CODA, an initiative offering early childhood and Suzuki violin classes to refugee and at-risk children. Currently these classes are taught in connection with World Relief and in a bilingual setting in a public school district. Carol was the coordinator for the 12th Suzuki Association of the Americas Biennial Conference and served on the SAA Board of Directors. In 2007 she was awarded ASTA Outstanding Studio Teacher of Illinois. Carol is a clinician at workshops and institutes around the country. She studied violin with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki in Matsumoto in 1985 and returned 1989 for summer school. Her experiences also include being a Suzuki parent of two teenagers who are string players as well.

An alumnus of the Denver School of the Arts, ALEX REVOAL holds a Bachelor of Music, from Lawrence University. He earned a Master of Music degree in cello performance and pedagogy, and a Performance Certificate from Northern Illinois University, where he studied with Marc Johnson of the Grammy-nominated Vermeer Quartet. While at NIU he played in the Alla Corda Quartet, a resident graduate ensemble, and taught an undergraduate music appreciation course. In the fall of 2002, he studied at the Institute for the International Education of Students in Vienna, Austria. His teachers have included Janet Anthony, Carol Tarr, Christine Vitoux-Erben, Elisabeth Anderson, and Stephen Harrison. He has played in masterclasses for cellists Anthony Arnone, Lynn Harrell and Brandon Vamos, and for pianists Paula Fan and Gil Kalish, and has received chamber music coachings with members of the Vermeer, Fine Arts, Pacifica, Brentano, Cavani and Ives Quartets. Fully committed to the continuous process of pedagogical development, he has so far participated in Suzuki training for Every Child Can and books 1 through 10 at the Chicago Suzuki Institute, where his trainers included Nancy Hair and Jean Dexter, and has completed a Suzuki Cello Practicum with Gilda Barston. He has had additional Suzuki training from Carey Beth Hockett, Sally Gross, Katherine Wood, Ed Kreitman and Pamela Devenport. In the summer of 2017 he participated in the Group Class Techniques teaching fellowship program with Carey Beth Hockett. From 2008 to 2013 he taught at the Music Institute of Chicago, and since 2006 he has been on the faculty at the Western Springs School of Talent Education/Naperville Suzuki School, where he co-directs the summer chamber camp and the advanced cello ensemble, Cellissimo. In 2015 Alex Revoal was awarded the level 1 Certificate of Achievement by the SAA.

CARLYNN SAVOT, cellist, is a teacher and performer in St. Paul, MN. Specializing in chamber music, she has a particular interest in performing new music and working closely with composers, including recording projects with composers Kyle Gann and Dan Romàn and the commissioned work Built on Gravel by Ruby Fulton (supported by the Zachs Endowment Fund).
As a chamber musician, she was selected to be a Goldberg Fellow at the International Musical Arts Institute in Fryeburg, Maine and has won the Miami String Quartet Competition at the University of Hartford and the University of Connecticut Chamber Festival Competition.
In Connecticut, she performed with the West End String Quartet, serving as the Young-Ensemble-in-Residence at the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival and presenting a number of contemporary works in collaboration with their composers, including the touring production Criminal Intent with the chamber opera company Rhymes With Opera. She performs in the Twin Cities with the Bishop String Quartet and Strains New Music Ensemble.
Along with performing, Dr. Savot is an active lecturer. Her workshops have included sessions for both students and teachers on a variety of topics ranging from technical aspects of playing to motivation in practice. In the summers, she teaches a cello technique course at the Hartt School’s Summerterm program. She has a particular academic interest in women composers and has participated in the Hartford Women Composer’s Series, giving a lecture performance focusing on Rebecca Clarke’s Piano Trio. Her dissertation on Clarke’s Viola Sonata explores gender perspectives and their effect on musical analysis.
Strongly committed to encouraging the next generation of performers, Dr. Savot teaches private lessons, Suzuki group classes, and chamber music at St. Joseph’s School of Music in St. Paul and the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis. She is on the faculty at Concordia University – St. Paul, the Black Hills String Retreat, and the Sartory String Quartet Institute. She holds performance degrees from St. Olaf College, the University of Hartford, and the University of Connecticut.
As a chamber musician, she was selected to be a Goldberg Fellow at the International Musical Arts Institute in Fryeburg, Maine and has won the Miami String Quartet Competition at the University of Hartford and the University of Connecticut Chamber Festival Competition.
In Connecticut, she performed with the West End String Quartet, serving as the Young-Ensemble-in-Residence at the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival and presenting a number of contemporary works in collaboration with their composers, including the touring production Criminal Intent with the chamber opera company Rhymes With Opera. She performs in the Twin Cities with the Bishop String Quartet and Strains New Music Ensemble.
Along with performing, Dr. Savot is an active lecturer. Her workshops have included sessions for both students and teachers on a variety of topics ranging from technical aspects of playing to motivation in practice. In the summers, she teaches a cello technique course at the Hartt School’s Summerterm program. She has a particular academic interest in women composers and has participated in the Hartford Women Composer’s Series, giving a lecture performance focusing on Rebecca Clarke’s Piano Trio. Her dissertation on Clarke’s Viola Sonata explores gender perspectives and their effect on musical analysis.
Strongly committed to encouraging the next generation of performers, Dr. Savot teaches private lessons, Suzuki group classes, and chamber music at St. Joseph’s School of Music in St. Paul and the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis. She is on the faculty at Concordia University – St. Paul, the Black Hills String Retreat, and the Sartory String Quartet Institute. She holds performance degrees from St. Olaf College, the University of Hartford, and the University of Connecticut.

LAURA SHAW is a registered Cello Suzuki Teacher Trainer. She completed her long term Suzuki training with Pamela Devenport at the Hartt School of Music. Ms. Shaw earned her DMA from the University of Iowa, studying with Anthony Arnone and Hannah Holman. She has a Masters of Music from the University of Hartford, and a BA from Luther College.
Laura Shaw is an Associate Principal of the Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed with Orchestra Iowa, Cedar Falls Symphony and as a member of the Corridor Piano Trio. She has won numerous awards, including the Pelzer Award at the University of Iowa, and the Fort Dodge Concerto Competition.
Laura Shaw is an Associate Principal of the Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed with Orchestra Iowa, Cedar Falls Symphony and as a member of the Corridor Piano Trio. She has won numerous awards, including the Pelzer Award at the University of Iowa, and the Fort Dodge Concerto Competition.

A native of Arizona, LINC SMELSER received his bachelor’s degree in Cello Performance from the University of Arizona where he studied with Dr. Gordon Epperson, and received his Master of Music degree and Performer’s Certificate in Cello Performance and Pedagogy at Northern Illinois University having studied with renowned cellist and pedagogue Raya Garbousova. Advanced study included work with cellists Marc Johnson, Ron Leonard, Gabor and Peter Rejto, Heinrich Schiff, the Vermeer Quartet, and pianists Richard Faith and Jerome Lowenthal.
In 2003, Mr. Smelser was appointed conductor/music director of the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra in DeKalb, IL. In 2009 he was named Conductor of the Year (Small Orchestra) by the Illinois Council of Orchestras. He has most recently been appointed conductor/music director of the Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra. He has guest-conducted the Northern Illinois University Philharmonic, the Harper Symphony Orchestra, the Fox Valley Orchestra (Aurora) and the Skokie Valley Community Orchestra. He is also conductor of the NIU Sinfonia and Symphonette, two youth symphonies that attract students from the Northern Illinois area.
Mr. Smelser has appeared as a soloist with Camerata Chicago, the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra, and the Rockford Symphony Orchestra, and has twice appeared in recital on the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts Series in Chicago, which is broadcast live on over 44 stations across the United States. He has won several awards including first prize of the National Society of Arts and Letters Chapter Competition, top prize of the National Federation of Music Clubs Regional Competition, and first prize of the International Lili Boulanger Memorial Fund Competition.
Mr. Smelser has been a member of the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra cello section since 1992 and has been an active substitute with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1997. He is also principal cellist of Camerata Chicago, a chamber orchestra based in Chicago. He continues to perform in The Three Celli, a chamber ensemble with Stephen Balderston and Brant Taylor, throughout the Northern Illinois Area.
Mr. Smelser has most recently been appointed a faculty member of the Music Institute of Chicago in Winnetka. He is also a faculty member in the Northern Illinois University School of Music and has been teaching private cello lessons through the NIU Community School of the Arts since 1988. He served as guest lecturer of cello at the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music from 2006 to 2016. He is also on the faculty of the Chicago Suzuki Institute and the Intermountain Suzuki Strings Institute in Utah and is pianist/accompanist for the Northern Illinois University Suzuki program.
In 2003, Mr. Smelser was appointed conductor/music director of the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra in DeKalb, IL. In 2009 he was named Conductor of the Year (Small Orchestra) by the Illinois Council of Orchestras. He has most recently been appointed conductor/music director of the Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra. He has guest-conducted the Northern Illinois University Philharmonic, the Harper Symphony Orchestra, the Fox Valley Orchestra (Aurora) and the Skokie Valley Community Orchestra. He is also conductor of the NIU Sinfonia and Symphonette, two youth symphonies that attract students from the Northern Illinois area.
Mr. Smelser has appeared as a soloist with Camerata Chicago, the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra, and the Rockford Symphony Orchestra, and has twice appeared in recital on the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts Series in Chicago, which is broadcast live on over 44 stations across the United States. He has won several awards including first prize of the National Society of Arts and Letters Chapter Competition, top prize of the National Federation of Music Clubs Regional Competition, and first prize of the International Lili Boulanger Memorial Fund Competition.
Mr. Smelser has been a member of the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra cello section since 1992 and has been an active substitute with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1997. He is also principal cellist of Camerata Chicago, a chamber orchestra based in Chicago. He continues to perform in The Three Celli, a chamber ensemble with Stephen Balderston and Brant Taylor, throughout the Northern Illinois Area.
Mr. Smelser has most recently been appointed a faculty member of the Music Institute of Chicago in Winnetka. He is also a faculty member in the Northern Illinois University School of Music and has been teaching private cello lessons through the NIU Community School of the Arts since 1988. He served as guest lecturer of cello at the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music from 2006 to 2016. He is also on the faculty of the Chicago Suzuki Institute and the Intermountain Suzuki Strings Institute in Utah and is pianist/accompanist for the Northern Illinois University Suzuki program.

Heralded for her "thoughtful, attentive" playing (Alabama Entertainment), cellist LAURA USISKIN enjoys a versatile career as a soloist and chamber musician. Her playing has taken her to concert halls throughout the United States and Europe, including the Kennedy Center, Palazzo Chigi Saracini (Siena, Italy), Symphony Hall (Boston), and New York venues including Alice Tully Hall, Weill Hall, Zankel Hall, Merkin Hall, Miller Theatre, Barge Music, Steinway Hall, Klavierhaus, and more.
She has received such awards as the Prix d’Instrument at the Écoles d'art Americaines (France), the Aldo Parisot Prize at Yale University, and was a finalist for the Pro Musicis International Award. She completed the nationally acclaimed Artist In Residency with the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra as well as a fellowship with the Yale Baroque Ensemble. Usiskin has held tenured orchestral appointments with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestra Iowa, where she served as Principal Cello.
Usiskin has performed chamber music with such renowned artists as Richard Stolzman, Ani Kavafian, and Emanuel Ax. Recent solo performances include concerts of the complete J.S. Bach solo suites in Los Angeles and Connecticut as well as concertos of Dvoràk and Shostakovich with the Montgomery Symphony and Orchestra Iowa respectively. Usiskin is a member of multiple chamber groups including the Bayberry String Quartet and ensemble vim.
In 2011, Usiskin founded the Montgomery Music Project, an El Sistema strings program for school students in Montgomery, Alabama. Under her direction, the program gave intensive string instruction to hundreds of low-income children across three counties. She served as the Executive Director of the program from its inception through 2013. For more information, visit www.montgomerysymphony.org/mmp
Usiskin serves on the faculty of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, through which she founded the concert series Chamber Music @ AEIVA. She also teaches at Birmingham-Southern College, the Alabama School of Fine Arts, and STEP Birmingham. Usiskin's cello studies began at age five with Gilda Barston of the Music Institute of Chicago and continued with Richard Hirschl of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She graduated from Columbia University cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and Behavior, The Juilliard School with a Master of Music, and Yale University with a Doctor of Musical Arts. She currently lives in Atlanta, GA.
She has received such awards as the Prix d’Instrument at the Écoles d'art Americaines (France), the Aldo Parisot Prize at Yale University, and was a finalist for the Pro Musicis International Award. She completed the nationally acclaimed Artist In Residency with the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra as well as a fellowship with the Yale Baroque Ensemble. Usiskin has held tenured orchestral appointments with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestra Iowa, where she served as Principal Cello.
Usiskin has performed chamber music with such renowned artists as Richard Stolzman, Ani Kavafian, and Emanuel Ax. Recent solo performances include concerts of the complete J.S. Bach solo suites in Los Angeles and Connecticut as well as concertos of Dvoràk and Shostakovich with the Montgomery Symphony and Orchestra Iowa respectively. Usiskin is a member of multiple chamber groups including the Bayberry String Quartet and ensemble vim.
In 2011, Usiskin founded the Montgomery Music Project, an El Sistema strings program for school students in Montgomery, Alabama. Under her direction, the program gave intensive string instruction to hundreds of low-income children across three counties. She served as the Executive Director of the program from its inception through 2013. For more information, visit www.montgomerysymphony.org/mmp
Usiskin serves on the faculty of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, through which she founded the concert series Chamber Music @ AEIVA. She also teaches at Birmingham-Southern College, the Alabama School of Fine Arts, and STEP Birmingham. Usiskin's cello studies began at age five with Gilda Barston of the Music Institute of Chicago and continued with Richard Hirschl of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She graduated from Columbia University cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and Behavior, The Juilliard School with a Master of Music, and Yale University with a Doctor of Musical Arts. She currently lives in Atlanta, GA.

NINA WALLENBERG is a graduate of the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem, Israel. She was formerly principal cellist of Orquestra Sinfonica del Valle in Cali, Columbia, and the Utah Valley Symphony. She is currently a member of the Northbrook Symphony. Ms. Wallenberg previously taught at the Rubin Academy – Community Division and at Brigham Young University. She has been on the cello faculty of the Music Institute of Chicago for the past 25 years. She also teaches Musikgarten (early childhood music) at MIC.

JULIA WEN is on faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago and teaches privately in the Chicagoland area. Past teaching positions include the Music For Youth of Arlington Heights, Peabody Preparatory and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s El-Sistema-inspired program, ORCHKids. A certified Suzuki teacher, Ms. Wen has completed pedagogy training with Jean Dexter, Dr. Tanya Carey and Sally Gross. She also teaches Musikgarten and is currently completing certification as a therapeutic musician through the Music for Healing and Transition program.
Julia earned her Master of Music degree from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore with Alan Stepansky, former Associate Principal cellist of the New York Philharmonic. She completed additional studies in Pedagogy with Bai-Chi Chen and Baroque Cello with Dr. John Moran. Ms. Wen finished her Bachelor of Music degree at Roosevelt University with Chicago Symphony Orchestra cellist Richard Hirschl; and was a student of former Lyric Opera of Chicago principal cellist Daniel Morganstern. The teacher who inspired it all, however, was a woman of incomparable talent and dedication: Gilda Barston.
Julia earned her Master of Music degree from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore with Alan Stepansky, former Associate Principal cellist of the New York Philharmonic. She completed additional studies in Pedagogy with Bai-Chi Chen and Baroque Cello with Dr. John Moran. Ms. Wen finished her Bachelor of Music degree at Roosevelt University with Chicago Symphony Orchestra cellist Richard Hirschl; and was a student of former Lyric Opera of Chicago principal cellist Daniel Morganstern. The teacher who inspired it all, however, was a woman of incomparable talent and dedication: Gilda Barston.