Caitlin M. TakeLessons Instructor Cello, Piano, Music, Music Theory, tutoring Wexford, PA

Caitlin, cellist, began her studies at age nine. At fourteen she won the West Virginia State Strings Competition and was one of three cellists chosen for the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts in the first year she was eligible. Within a few months of studying with New York Soloist, Misha Quint, she played a scholarship-winning audition for Duquesne University. She attended such prestigious festivals as the Soesterberg International Music Festival in Holland, the Sulzbach-Rosenberg International Music Festival in Germany, and Interharmony International Music Festival in The Berkshires, MA. Caitlin performed in master classes with Ron Leonard, who holds the Piatigorsky Chair at the University of Southern California, and Sara Male of the Newstead Piano Trio. Her coaches included Sidney Harth, Anna Balakerskaya, Vitaly Leykin, Randy Kelly, Lynn Blakeslee, Leslie Amper, Olga Yanovich, Chris Wu, Ann Setzer, Mikhail Istomin, and Adam Liu.  Caitlin has recently won the following awards: Full Scholarship to Duquesne University for their Masters of Music program, winner of the Tuesday Musical Club Scholarship Competition in May of 2008, winner of the Opus I Music Club Scholarship in April of 2008, and an Honorable Mention in the Music Teacher’s National Association Young Artists Competition in 2007. She is the founding member of the Fourth Muse Quartet, with whom she regularly performs, and is looking forward to the InterHarmony International Music Festival in Pittsfield, MA in June and a winner’s recital for the Tuesday Musical Club this fall.

Teaching Philosophy:  Since I have had excellent teachers and they have guided me from rock-bottom to a competitive level from a later age, I have a good understanding of technique and the steps it takes to achieve good technique.  Interpretation of music is as important to technique to me.

Something setting me a part from other instructors is that I teach students how to practice efficiently, so they progress faster.  also make music fun and love working with people of all ages.

Cello, Piano, Music, Music Theory, tutoring