Teaching

My teaching philosophy is grounded in the belief that students today benefit most from an education that prepares them not only as skilled performers, but also as adaptable, curious, and socially engaged artists. I encourage students to cultivate deep listening, creative collaboration, and artistic experimentation as essential components of developing their individual voices. In my teaching, I strive to create an environment where technical mastery and artistic exploration support one another, empowering students to engage meaningfully with both traditional repertoire and contemporary performance practices.

As a performer, composer, and educator, I am deeply interested in expanding the expressive possibilities of the cello through interdisciplinary and technology informed approaches to performance. My work often integrates improvisation, sound design, recording technology, and collaborative creation, and I encourage students to think expansively about the evolving role of the modern musician. As President of the Violoncello Society of New York, I recently led a collaborative partnership with The Yale Cellos in which 45 student, faculty, and professional cellists performed my original composition Still from my album EVER NOW. Experiences such as these demonstrate to students the power of collective artistry, mentorship, and creative community.

Throughout my teaching career, I have worked with students from a wide range of backgrounds, ages, and levels of experience. I am committed to fostering an inclusive and intergenerational artistic community that supports children, university students, adult learners, and returning musicians alike. My teaching experience includes preparing students for youth orchestra auditions, NYSSMA examinations, conservatory auditions, competitions, and professional orchestra auditions, while also helping students develop confidence, individuality, and a lifelong connection to music.

At the center of my teaching is the belief that music is a powerful means of communication that can foster dialogue, empathy, and understanding across diverse communities. I aim to help students not only become excellent musicians, but also thoughtful artists who are equipped to contribute creatively and meaningfully to the world around them.