" Music can change the world" -Beethoevn
" Music can heal the wounds, that medicine cannot touch." - Debasish Mridha
Studio instructor
Kathryn Cheng
Cello / Piano Instructor
Ms. Cheng holds her Master's of Music and Music Performance Diploma from Boston University and received her Bachelor's in Music from University of Missouri- Kansas City. Currently, she enrolls to the Doctoral of Musical Arts program at Boston University as a doctorate candidate. While she study at BU, she served as a cello faculty and gave lessons to college students. Before she taught at BU, she also served as a faculty members in several different programs, including YoFES program for high/middle school students and summer camp, Greater Boston Jewish Day School for elementary school students, and La Sierra University for the youth program. She helped students prepared for the audition and rehearsals for the All Campus Orchestra at BU, Boston Youth Orchestra (MA), and Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra (MD),and Potomac Valley Youth Orchestra (MD). Several of her students are currently holding significant seatings in the youth orchestras of the area, and students of Kathryn are recently got nominated and invited to perform in Carnegie Hall, NY.
Kathryn is a versatile musician residing in the greater DC area. As a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral musician, Ms. Cheng has performed across North America and Asia at such prestigious venues as Boston Symphony Hall, Tsai Performing Center, Boston Conventional Center, Huntington Theatre House, the Kennedy Center, and the Taiwan National Concert Hall, Capital One Hall and the White House.
Ms. Cheng has studied with Rhonda Rider (cellist of Triple Helix Piano Trio), Marc Johnson (cellist of Vermeer String Quartet), and Carter Enyeart (Chair of String Department at UMKC). She has also performed in master classes for Formosa String Quartet, Brant Taylor, Muir String Quartet, and Cavani String Quartet. Kathryn won several awards and honors, including the First Place at the Council for Culture Affairs of Taiwan and full scholarship from Mimir Chamber Music Festival at Texas Christian University. From 2002 to 2004, she performed as a student musician with the Chi-Mei Symphony Orchestra. During her time with the orchestra, she had the opportunity to play renowned cellos such as “The Pawle,” made by Antonio Stradivari.
Ms. Cheng offers students a personalized exploration of music theory and the art of musical performance. Pedagogical elements of many renowned teachers such as Shinichi Suzuki , Carl Off, Zoltan Kodaly, Janos Starker, and Karen Tuttle are incorporated into the teaching at all students ensuring that student have fulfilling and enjoyable experiences making music. Fundamentals such as rhythm, note-reading, theory, and physical awareness are incorporated into learning the instrument from the very first lesson.
Quotes from Students/Parents of Students
Kathryn was a great teacher for my two boys, ages 5 and 11. She was engaging and able to meet them where they were at in their skill and interest level, while not being too strict or too lax. She also had an incentive system that my boys enjoyed and looked forward to earning through practicing. We only wish we could have had her longer!
- a parent of students age 5 and age 11
My daughter truly looked forward to every lesson with Kathryn. I remember the first lesson with Kathryn because I was so amazed at how much learning she fit into the 30 minutes. She truly is a gifted teacher, and my daughter learned so much with her.I highly recommend Kathryn as a teacher for any age child interested in fostering a love of music.
- a parent of student age 7