Piano with Ellie A.

I am a classically trained pianist and French horn player. I have been studying both instruments for 12 years and graduated with my Bachelor's degree in French horn performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. I currently work as a freelance musician and teacher in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. I am excited to share my love for music with others in hopes that it will enrich their lives like it has mine! My primary horn teachers have included Kevin Rivard (Principal horn, San Francisco Opera) and Robert Ward (Principal horn, San Francisco Symphony.) I have ten years of performance experience in orchestra, wind ensemble, chamber ensembles, and as a soloist. Most recently, I performed with the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra as principal horn on their European concert tour with performances in the Berlin Philharmonie, Vienna Musikverein, and Hamburg Elbphilharmonie. I have also traveled on orchestral tours to Spain, China, and England. I have played in masterclasses for horn professors such as Gail Williams (former Associate Principal horn, Chicago Symphony), Andrew Bain (Principal horn, Los Angeles Philharmonic), Dale Clevenger (former Principal horn, Chicago Symphony), and Eric Ruske (former associate principal horn, The Cleveland Orchestra). I also attended the Brevard Music Center's College Orchestra program in 2017 & 2018, where I played in the Brevard Music Center Orchestra alongside esteemed horn players including Elisabeth Freimuth, Richard Deane, and Bernhard Scully. I began playing piano at the age of ten and studied with Charla Edgar. I completed the California Certificate of Merit program for piano through level 10 (advanced). I have also completed extensive coursework at the conservatory level in music theory, music history, and musicianship, and will gladly work on these subjects with any interested students. I believe that studying music theory in particular is extremely beneficial when learning an instrument, and I try to incorporate theory and ear-training into all lessons. A large part of my training has also been focused on performing and how to battle performance anxiety, and I will happily share the tools I've learned with any students who struggle with this as well. Pursuing a career in music has taught me the value of hard work and resilience, but also the importance of having fun with music and using it as a vehicle for creative expression. This is what I am looking to pass on to the next generation of musicians!