Richard Evans
Suzuki Cello
I began my music instruction on piano at an early age. My family held a strong belief that music was an integral part of a well rounded childhood education. Through the elementary school orchestra program in Vestal NY, I was introduced to strings and was drawn to the sound of the cello.
I was enrolled in a Suzuki Program taught by Miriam Wu and immediately preferred the group activity aspect presented both in school orchestra and cello studies over the more solitary piano lessons. I discovered that while making music by oneself is fun, as a group it's fantastic! I spent several summers attending Suzuki Programs in Ithaca, joined the Binghamton Youth Symphony and participated in several NY state music activities such as NYSSMA and all-county/all-state orchestra festivals.
At age 13, I moved to Seattle where I continued my studies with Marjorie Parkington and joined the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra. Through the Youth Symphony, I was introduced to several professional musicians as sectional and chamber music coaches, and it was there that my love of music matured.
After a crash course in cello and professional practice techniques with the principal cellist of the Seattle Symphony, I completed a Bachelors of Music Performance at the University of Washington with Rajan Krishnaswami, a Master of Music Performance at Boston University with Andres Diaz, and continued my instruction with Michael Reynolds, Leslie Parnas, and Rhonda Rider in Boston. In addition, I studied string pedagogy with Toby Saks in Seattle and Bonnie Black in Boston. While in Boston, I also worked with the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras as a chamber coach and taught group cello lessons through their Intensive Community Program. I taught private lessons to students grade 6 through 12 through the Norwood and Brookline School Districts and to several adult beginners on an individual basis. Through this I attended several chamber and orchestral festivals, including the Musicorda and Roundtop Music Festivals.
In 2005 I left Boston for the midwest, and for 2 years I held a private studio in Madison Wisconsin. I also worked with chamber groups from the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras and performed with various regional orchestras in the area, including the Madison, Rockford, La Crosse and Dubuque Symphonies.
For the last 7 years, I have taught on the faculty of the Music Academy in Rockford , while at the same time completing teacher training courses in all 10 of the Suzuki cello books. I also became a founding member of the Jane Addams Piano Trio, with whom I have given several chamber music recitals throughout Rockford. I now also teach private lessons through Maine South High School in Park Ridge and I coach chamber music through the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras. I continue to play regularly with the Rockford Symphony Orchestra and give recitals through the Music Academy in Rockford.