Cello with Mandy G.

I started taking cello lessons at the age of 9, where I quickly found that it was my passion. I rose to the top from a young age, and was winning competitions and performing in professional concert series and in tours all over the USA and Europe by the time I was in high school. I also collaborated and performed with members of Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble in their Global Musician Workshop in its inaugural and second years. At the workshop, I learned songs by ear and improvised in styles of music from all around the world. I worked with cellist Mike Block, folk singer Sarah Jarosz, fiddler Hanneke Cassel, and more. I believe that it is important to give the young students of today the tools needed to operate in our global community, and my experience with the Silk Road Ensmeble helps me pass on these tools to my students. I received my B.A. in Music with a focus on Cello Performance at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, where I studied with famed cello soloist Andres Diaz. During my time in Dallas, I professionally taught as well as performed all over the city, in orchestras, ensembles, and solo recitals. I recently received my M.M. in Music Education from Southern Methodist University, where I was a well-respected and revered educator amongst my peers and coworkers. After graduating, I moved to Asheville, NC to take on the position of Program Director at the Asheville Music School. I am excited to build a studio here in Asheville and share music with all of my students!