Richard Evans

cellist and instructor

Elgin and Rockford, IL

Teaching

Learning to play music is a wonderfully comprehensive part of an early childhood education! It teaches focus, mind/body connection (fine motor skills), dedication, and a healthy outlet for emotional expression.


My name is Richard Evans and I have decades of experience teaching students of all ages and levels. My advanced training was through the lineage of the great cellist pedagogues Leonard Rose, Pablo Casals, Gregor Piatagorsky, and I teach through the Suzuki method, an approach that creates an environment where “every child can” and emphasizes the fact that all students have the ability to develop talent. The inspiration I found in the greater Suzuki community is what has lead me to pursue music performance and to devote my life to music education.


Teaching and performing are both important to me. Teaching ensures the future of music in building a better understanding (and excitement!) of music making. In the end, though, performance is what music is all about. Live professional performances expose students to a wider range of music and skills than they would otherwise experience, inspire them in their own musical pursuits, and reinforce a definitive standard to strive towards.


About richard

I began my music education 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. In 2007, I began teaching 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 have since made my home in Elgin, IL, where I have coached chamber music ensembles for the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras, maintained a private studio, and served as the cello teacher at the Suzuki School of Elgin.


Listen

Cellists of the Rockford Symphony Orchestra performed a virtual concert during the Covid-19 pandemic.


To see more of Richard's playing, visit his YouTube channel.

Contact

For lessons in the greater Rockford area, click the link above.

For Suzuki lessons in the greater Elgin area, click the link above.

Private lessons

For private lessons, please contact Richard at celloguru@gmail.com.