Rick Mooney (1953-2023)
Founder
Rick Mooney grew up in a musical family where he began studying piano at age 5 and cello at age 8. His principle cello teachers were Victor Sazer and Eleanore Schoenfeld. He studied Suzuki teaching methods with Phyllis Glass at USC and traveled to Japan in the spring of 1976. As a specialist in the Suzuki method of teaching, Mr. Mooney was a guest teacher at many institutes and workshops throughout the United States, Canada, Asia, England, Australia and New Zealand. He was active with the Suzuki Association of the Americas, serving on the Board of Directors, on the Cello Committee and writing for the American Suzuki Journal. He was also the founder and director of the National Cello Institute which sponsors a Summer Institute, a Winter Workshop and publishes music for cello ensembles.
Peter Kibbe
Managing Director
Peter Kibbe, son of Los Angeles and proud citizen of Baltimore, was raised in a family of musicians and composers, and in addition to studying and playing with some of the finest teachers, coaches, and performers on both coasts of the US, he currently enjoys a career as an orchestral and chamber musician in and around Baltimore. Owing to his start in the west, and the training given him by his teachers Rachael Lonergan, John Walz, and Andrew Cook, Mr. Kibbe has had the privilege of working with several of today’s respected performers and conductors, including Michael Tilson Thomas, Kent Nagano, Grant Gershon, Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle and John Legend, to name a few. He has performed orchestrally for capacity audiences across the United States and parts of Europe, including acclaimed concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and Carnegie Hall in New York. Having completed his studies with premier cellist Alan Stepansky at The Peabody Institute, Peter is currently a member of several ensembles in Baltimore, including The Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, which performs a diverse range of classical and romantic era pieces, and he is a founding member of Pique Collective (www.piquecollective.org), an acclaimed chamber group dedicated to uncommon music in uncommon venues. In addition to preserving the American ragtime tradition by touring with the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra, who present live showings of black and white films with a period theater orchestra, Peter also enjoys contributing to cutting edge new music, by performing with Mind on Fire, a large modular ensemble dedicated to performing premiers, commissions, and hot new music, as well as Naked Eye Ensemble, who commission new works for mixed ensemble from all over the US. Mr. Kibbe has enjoyed finding himself in many varied and eclectic performance settings during his career, including symphony halls, historic cathedrals, coffee houses, summer festivals, recording studios, night clubs, libraries, grassy fields, cruise ships, kindergartens and amphitheaters, and is always glad to play for open ears. He happily plays on a 2004 Cremonese instrument made by Roberto Collini.
Amy Barston
Praised as “passionate and elegant” by The New York Times, cellist Amy Sue Barston has performed as soloist and chamber musician on stages throughout the world, including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Ravinia, Caramoor, Haan Hall (Jerusalem), The Banff Centre (Canada), The Power House (Australia), and Prussia Cove (England). She has performed Osvaldo Golijovs Omaramor in twenty international cities, receiving twenty consecutive standing ovations. Of the world premiere of Ned Rorems Aftermath at Ravinia, The Chicago Sun-Times wrote: “the deep, rich tones of Barston’s cello haunted the vocal line like a sorrowing vision.” At seventeen she appeared as soloist with the Chicago Symphony on live television, and won Grand Prize in the Society of American Musicians Competition. She studied with Eleonore Schoenfeld at USC and Joel Krosnick at The Juilliard School, where she earned her Masters degree and is assistant faculty. Amy is also the cellist of the Corigliano Quartet, who S trad Magazine hailed as having “abundant commitment and mastery,” and who’s recent Naxos CD was ranked one of the top two CDs of the year by both the New Yorker and Gramophone Magazine. Above all, she is a devoted teacher; her students commute hundreds of miles for lessons and occasionally come from as far as Alaska, Brazil, and Japan. www.amybarston.com.
Lynn Burrows
“Lynn Burrows (BM,MM) has taught at the California State University Suzuki String Program, the Hollywood Jewish Community Center, the Pasadena Conservatory of Music, and for decades in her private studio. She is the founder and former director of the Youngstown Suzuki Program, the Peterborough Suzuki Strings Program, and Inland Valley Music Together. She has been a regular clinician, teaching at the American Suzuki Institute, the Seattle/Japan Institute, the San Diego Suzuki Clinic, and the National Cello Institute since 1991. She has enjoyed performing orchestral repertoire with the Youngstown Symphony, the Pomona College Orchestra, and the Claremont Concert Orchestra; chamber music with the Kinnor Trio and the Yushiani Trio; and Celtic music with the Gold Ring and Drowsy Maggie.”
Carey Cheney
Carey Cheney, a native of Canada has been teaching and performing for over 25 years. She is a Registered Teacher Trainer of cello for the Suzuki Association of the Americas, and author/recording artist of the series of books and CD’s (eight volumes), Solos For Young Cellists published by Summy-Birchard (Alfred Music Inc.). She holds the degree of Master of Music in Cello Performance with Highest Honors from University of Texas, Austin, where she studied cello and pedagogy with Phyllis Young. She also studied in Germany for 2 years with Andre Navarra. She has had much international teaching and playing experience, in Europe, Canada, Costa Rica, Brazil, Japan, Mexico and New Zealand. She was a guest teacher at the 1999 World Suzuki Conference in Matsumoto, Japan the 2006 World Suzuki Conference in Turin, Italy, taught at the 2008 Hamilton Summer Suzuki String Institute in Rotorua, New Zealand, and at the Festival Los Cedros 2008 in Mexico City. Carey is currently pursuing the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in cello performance, with a minor in musicology at the University of Utah.
Carey is interested in the balance of teaching and playing and enjoys concertizing in many types of settings, especially for young people. She enjoys designing programs that involve contrasting musical styles and high energy. She is an enthusiastic researcher, and writer, having been the editor and publisher of the bimonthly newsletter which circulated world-wide from 1988 – 2000, Cello News. She has also published articles about cello pedagogy in the American String Teacher, and the American Suzuki Teacher.
Carey’s greatest job is to be cello teacher to her 14 year old son Livingston, a position she has held for 10 years. For fun, she loves yoga, skiing and is an enthusiastic runner, with two marathons down, hopefully more to go!
Pamela Devenport
Internationally recognized lecturer and master teacher Pamela Devenport teaches Long Term Cello Suzuki Pedagogy at the School for Strings, New York, NY, and at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. Ms. Devenport has shared her unique blend of expertise and experience with hundreds of people in the Suzuki Community throughout the world. She has recently published her first book, Cellostart available through United Writers Press.
Well known and respected as a Suzuki workshop and institute teacher, Ms. Devenport has toured extensively in the United States and Canada, and has been a guest speaker on many occasions, including the National Cello Institute, the American String Teachers Association, several Suzuki Association National Conferences, the World Cello Congress, and guest faculty/lecturer at International Conferences in Australia, Italy, New Zealand and Great Britain.
Ms. Devenport is a Suzuki Association of the Americas Registered Cello Teacher Trainer, and is collegiate faculty at Georgia State University. Ms. Devenport holds a Masters Degree in Cello Performance from the Hartt School, where she later became Chair of Strings of the Hartt Community Division, cello faculty of the Hartt School Collegiate Division, and developed the curriculum of Suzuki Cello Pedagogy in the graduate school. In addition, she holds Diploma from the Professional Studies Program at the Barbara Brennan School of Energy Healing, and is currently pursuing a diploma from the Center for Intentional Living, Danbury, CT., and a diploma in Advanced Studies in Brennan Integration Work in Miami.
Rodney Farrar
Cellist Rodney Farrar, a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. He later studied at the Eastman School of Music and Indiana University with noted cellists Ronald Leonard and Janos Starker. It was at Oberlin, however, that Rodney was impelled toward a music career by the passionate teaching of a young Peter Howard, long time Twin Cities cellist, to whom he is deeply grateful. After a year with the Rochester(NY) Philharmonic Orchestra Rodney enjoyed the first nine years of a teaching career as cello instructor at the University of Kentucky where he performed frequently in recital and as cellist with that school’s resident chamber ensembles. He was also able to solo on several occasions with the university orchestra and the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra of which he was principal cellist. Rodney later taught at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, New York, summer sessions at the University of Illinois and the Brevard Music Festival in North Carolina. Rodney has long had a special love for teaching children and has been privileged to be involved in the development of Suzuki cello teaching from its beginning in this country. With a teaching style which attempts to minimize judgment and bring the pure joy of musical expression, he has brought excitement to young cellists at hundreds of workshops and institutes throughout the U.S. and Canada. In March of 2008 he was honored to be a guest of the Talent Education Research Institute in Tokyo where he held master classes and group lessons and directed the cello portion of their 52nd annual Grand Concert. Rodney has published a number of mixed level cello choir arrangements which have become popular with teachers around the country. Many are available on the CD Fat Notes Cellobration and can be heard at Fatnotes.com. Rodney now lives in Littleton, Colorado with his wife, two children and two grandchildren. He enjoys working with a class of wonderful private students and still pursues an active schedule of teaching workshops.
Avi Friedlander
Avi Friedlander, Cello, 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 Stephan Braun from Berlin.
Abbey Hansen
Cellist, artist-teacher and Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) registered Cello Teacher Trainer, Abbey Hansen, maintains an active teaching and performing schedule in the Cleveland area where she has lived and taught since 2016. As founder and director of Cleveland Cello School, Ms. Hansen maintains a full and active studio of cello students ages 3 and up and their families. 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 at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
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 from coast to coast. 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’ Certificate of Achievement for excellence in Suzuki education.
Patty Hicks
Patty Hicks lives in Orange, California. Patty holds a Bachelor of Music degree from CSU Fullerton. She taught for six years in the public schools before turning her attention full time to private studio teaching. She works with students at many levels and ages. Patty has a passion for chamber music and loves coaching cello ensembles. She is the cellist of the Santiago String Quartet. Her other interests include photography, hiking, gardening, reading and having fun with her two cats.
Matthew Keating
Matthew is the Executive Director of the Claremont Community School of Music, where he has served for over 10 years. As the Executive Director, Mr. Keating not only has a private teaching studio for cello, but also teaches group cello classes, conducts the Prelude Symphonic Ensemble youth orchestra program, and assists in the musical development of the 1,000 students that currently attend the school of music. During his tenure with the school of music, Mr. Keating has cultivated a jazz program, a chamber music program and tirelessly fundraised tens of thousands of dollars for the School of Music community fund to allow every child that wishes to study music the opportunity to do so.
Sarah Koo
Cellist Sarah Koo is known not only for her solo and chamber performances, but also as an avid educator and outreach advocate. Ms. Koo made her 2000 New York debut in a solo recital at Carnegie?s Weill Recital Hall as the youngest winner of the Artists International Competition. Ms. Koo graduated with her Master and Bachelor of Music degrees from The Juilliard School where she was the sole recipient of the prestigious William Schumann Award for outstanding achievements in music, academics, and leadership. Ms. Koo completed a season as the Assistant Principal Cellist of the Phoenix Symphony Previous to her appointment with the Phoenix Symphony, she was touring Italy and Europe with the Symphonica Arturo Toscanini under the direction of Maestro Lorin Maazel. Ms. Koo currently teaches at The Pioneer School of Music in Irvine, California.
Beth Goldstein-Mckee
Beth Goldstein-Mckee brings her extensive performing and teaching experience to her work with students at institutes and workshops across the United States and in her studio in Ashland, Oregon. In addition to over twenty-five years of teaching using the Suzuki method, Beth performs with the Rogue Valley Symphony as well as with other local ensembles. A registered Suzuki Association of the Americas teacher trainer, she recently trained cello teachers at the International Suzuki Festival in Peru. Beth has given presentations at both the American String Teachers’ Association and the SAA conferences, and served on the Board of Directors of the SAA. Previously, Beth was on the faculty of Holy Names College’s Suzuki Program and the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, and maintained a private studio in Berkeley, California. As the cellist in contemporary music ensembles in Boston, NYC and London, Beth premiered cello and chamber music works, and received grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Polaroid Foundation to bring new music to wider audiences. Beth graduated from Brandeis University and was awarded the Sachar International Fellowship for study in London, England. She started her training as a Suzuki teacher in 1981 with Yvonne Tait, and completed long term training in 1983 at the School for Strings, NYC. Her cello teachers have included Robert Gardner, George Neikrug and Channing Robbins.
Julie Newton
Julie Newton is an alumni of the National Cello Institute, having attended herself as a student of Charlene Wilson. She is currently Co-Chair of the Suzuki Strings Department at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music, where she also maintains her private studio. She enjoys actively participating as a clinician at Suzuki workshops and institutes around the country. Previously, Ms. Newton was principal cello with the Orchestra at Temple Square and Utah Chamber Artists in Salt Lake City where she also served as Regional Coordinator for the Suzuki Association of Utah. She has done extensive freelance work, performing with a variety of professional artists in many different genres of music. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in cello performance and followed up with graduate work with Daniel Rothmuller at California State University at Long Beach. Ms. Newton and her husband, Marty, are the parents of two children.
Melissa Solomon
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Melissa Solomon grew up in a family of professional musicians where she developed an early passion for both performance and teaching. She immigrated to the United States to study at Interlochen Arts Academy and later graduated from the Juilliard School. Ms. Solomon completed her Suzuki training with Pamela Devenport, Nancy Hair, Sally Gross, Carol Tarr and Jean Dexter, and Rick Mooney. She now serves as faculty throughout the US at Festivals, Workshops and Institutes.
Melissa believes the joy of creative expression is inherent in every child. Awakening and cultivating this joy is her vocation. In addition to teaching, Melissa has a love of playing. She has performed solo and chamber music throughout the United States, Europe and South Africa. Melissa lives and teaches in Austin, Texas where she has her private cello studio, directs her South Austin Cello Choir and plays chamber music. When she is not teaching or playing the cello, she loves to wood-carve, write, draw, hike, camp, play games, ride bikes, chat and laugh with family, friends and her two delightful children ages 12 and 10.
Barbara Wampner
Barbara is active as an SAA registered Suzuki cello teacher trainer and has a private studio of approximately thirty-five cello students, age four to adult, in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has been an active clinician for summer institutes and workshops in the US and abroad and serves as Suzuki Association of the Americas representative to the ISA International Cello Committee. She also directs the Suzuki School of Music at Dominican University of California at San Rafael. She has a B.M.E. degree from Northwestern University and an M.A. degree from San Francisco State University with cello studies with Margaret Rowell. For thirteen years she taught instrumental music in the San Francisco Unified School District middle schools.
Nancy Yamagata
Nancy Yamagata began her cello studies in Los Angeles with internationally renowned pedagogue Eleonore Schoenfeld. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music where she was awarded the Outstanding Graduate in 1978.
Ms. Yamagata has concertized extensively as a chamber musician with the Young International Trio, winning prizes in the 1974 and 1975 Coleman Chamber Music Competition. She is a founding member of the Marina Ensemble who in 2014 celebrated their 30th anniversary by performing a commissioned work by composer/pedagogue Michael McLean.
In 1986 Ms. Yamagata was awarded the SHAR Distinguished Young Teacher Award by the Suzuki Association of the Americas and has served as a presenter and Cello Coordinator of the biennial SAA Conference.
Ms. Yamagata is the cello coordinator of the Suzuki String Program at the Colburn Community School of Performing Arts. She has directed the Chamber Music Workshop at the Los Angeles Suzuki Institute and has served on the Board of the Suzuki Music Association of California. In addition, Ms. Yamagata has taught at numerous institutes and workshops throughout the United States and Canada and is on the faculty at the National Cello Institute at Claremont.