North Star Cello Academy offers private and group cello instruction to students prekindergarten to college level and adult. We are conveniently located in Roseville, MN. Our students come to us from all over the Twin Cities Metro area.
All of our instructors have advanced degrees in cello performance, extensive teacher training, and professional performance experience. Through instruction at North Star Cello Academy, the student will have the opportunity to develop instrumental and musical skills that can provide them with a lifetime of musical appreciation and enjoyment. We encourage our students to participate in cello group class, Minnesota Youth Symphonies, Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, as well as other local music opportunities such as masterclasses and Suzuki Association of Minnesota Graduation ceremonies.
We welcome everyone from beginners with no previous musical experience to advanced players of any level.
All of our instructors have advanced degrees in cello performance, extensive teacher training, and professional performance experience. Through instruction at North Star Cello Academy, the student will have the opportunity to develop instrumental and musical skills that can provide them with a lifetime of musical appreciation and enjoyment. We encourage our students to participate in cello group class, Minnesota Youth Symphonies, Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, as well as other local music opportunities such as masterclasses and Suzuki Association of Minnesota Graduation ceremonies.
We welcome everyone from beginners with no previous musical experience to advanced players of any level.
Our instructors
David Holmes lives in Minneapolis, MN, and has been teaching Suzuki cello for 20 years. He has completed training courses in all 10 books as well as the practicum. David has been a guest clinician at over 40 summer institutes, including the Chicago Suzuki Institute, the Intermountain Suzuki Institute, the Oregon Suzuki Institute, the Hartt Suzuki Institute, the Black Hills String Retreat, and the Chi Zii Bii Suzuki Institute in Bemidji, MN. David has presented twice at the Suzuki National Conference, most recently in 2014. He has been a board member of the Wisconsin Cello Society for the past two years. David is also cello columnist for the award winning journal of the Minnesota String and Orchestral Teacher’s Association, and has written numerous articles on all aspects of cello teaching since 2007. David has a Master’s and DMA degree in cello from the University of Kansas, and is an active performer in the twin cities. He has been principal cello in the Minnetonka Symphony, the Bloomington Symphony, and has been a member of the Minnesota Opera Orchestra as well. He concertizes frequently as an artist member of the Thursday Musical organization, and as cellist with the Northern Lights String Quartet as well.
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Will Richardson is cellist and instructor in the Twin Cities. He has performed with the Mill City Summer Opera, American Ballet Theater, Duluth-Superior Symphony, Evansville Philharmonic, Owensboro Symphony, Marion Philharmonic, and the Richmond Symphony, among others. Aside from numerous classical performances, he has performed with many pop acts such as The Who, Hanson, Evanescence, Lee Ann Womack, Weird Al Yankovic, Disturbed, Idina Menzel, Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith. Mr. Richardson completed his undergraduate and performer diploma degrees at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, where his primary teachers were Helga Winold and Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi. He studied baroque cello with Christine Kyprianides. While at Indiana University, he was awarded the Eva Heinitz Scholarship, Dean's Award, Merit Scholarship, and the Faculty Music Award. Mr. Richardson is a co-founder of North Star Cello Academy located in Roseville, MN and instructor of cello at Century College and Inver Hills Community College. His previous teaching experience includes, St. Joseph's School of Music, The College of Saint Benedict, Bethel University, Hamline University, and Ramsey International Fine Arts Center in Minneapolis. He has received Suzuki Cello Teacher training through the Suzuki Associations of the Americas. Mr. Richardson has served as a judge for various local and national competitions such as WAMSO Young Artist Competition, Mary West competition, and Thursday Musical Young Artist Competition. Mr. Richardson plays a cello made by David Folland and a bow by Roger Zabinski. More information at willrichardsoncello.com |
Teresa Richardson, cellist, is acting Principal of the Minnesota Opera and is an active freelance musician in the Twin Cities area. Teresa has performed in many orchestras, including the Minnesota Orchestra, Evansville Philharmonic, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, National Repertory Orchestra, Mill City Summer Opera, and Duluth Superior Symphony. She appeared as soloist with orchestra performing concertos by Elgar, Haydn and Saint-Saens, Boccherini and Vivaldi.
Fulfilling a strong passion for teaching, Teresa is on the faculty at North Star Cello Academy and MacPhail Center for Music, and has taught at University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire, St. Joseph’s School of Music, and Affetti Festival in Anchorage, Alaska. She completed Suzuki Method training with Pamela Devenport, Jean Dexter, Barbara Wampner, Beth Cantrell, Melissa Kraut, and Carey Beth Hockett. Originally from Clifton, Virginia, Teresa began her study of the cello at age nine through Fairfax County Public Schools. Teresa earned Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees in cello performance from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, where she graduated with high distinction. Her past instructors include Janos Starker, Emilio Colon, Helga Winold, Loran Stephenson, Barbara van Patten, and Anne Rupert. More information at teresarichardsoncello.com |