Wendy Velasco

Background

Education

• University of Southern California

  • B.M. Cello Performance, Summa cum Laude

• Royal Conservatory of Music

  • ARTC in Cello Performance

Teaching

Wendy has taught the cello for over 20 years to students of all ages and levels, from the young beginner to college music majors. Her emphasis is on a strong technical foundation while developing a student’s love for classical music. However, it is not unusual for Wendy to incorporate the latest pop songs into a student’s repertoire, especially when it can highlight a specific technique that is being taught. Wendy follows the leveled certificates of the Music Teacher’s Association’s Certificate of Merit Program (CM). At the end of each level, students are awarded a certificate (whether they participate in CM or not). Please visit www.mtac.org for additional information on CM. Wendy also uses a practice incentive program which rewards consistent and effective practice.

Performance

Wendy Velasco is an active freelance cellist in the Los Angeles area. She completed her undergraduate education with a Bachelor of Music, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Southern California. Previous instructors include: Eleonore Schoenfeld, from USC; Bernard Greenhouse, of the famed Beaux Arts Trio; Harvey Shapiro, from the Juilliard school; and Vladimir Orloff, from the University of Toronto. Ms. Velasco is the Assistant Principal cellist with the New West Symphony which performs in Thousand Oaks, Oxnard, and Santa Monica. She has performed for movies and television shows and with such area ensembles as: the Pacific Symphony, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Long Beach Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, and the Mozart Camarata. For many years, she was the personnel manager for the Riverside County Philharmonic. She has performed with such artists as Pinchas Zuckerman, Anne Akiko Meyers, Sarah Chang, Philippe Quint, Lara St. John, Anton Kuerti, Angela Cheng, Christoper O’Riley, Arnaldo Cohen, Vassily Primakov, Jens Lindemann, Jon Nakamatsu, Yakov Kasman, Gil Shaham, The 5 Browns, Andre Bocelli, Van Cliburn, Cho-Liang (Jimmy) Lin, Robert Thies, Stewart Goodyear, Jan Jiracek, Corey Cerovsek, Andrew von Oeyen, and many others.

In addition to teaching privately at Oaks Music Studio, Ms. Velasco has performed many educational performances for 3rd graders, introducing them to the string family and classical music. As well she has served on two “Arts for All” committees which seek to improve access to arts education for public school students. She currently serves as the president of the local chapter of the American String Teacher’s Association (ASTA).

Studio

Lesson Offerings

Cello for all ages and levels

Genres/Styles

Classical

Teaching Hours

Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays; please contact Wendy for further availability

Policies

1. Lessons are paid monthly and due on the first week of each month. Students are responsible for all regularly scheduled lessons unless canceled by the instructor. There are no credits to the next month’s tuition for lessons canceled by the student.

2. Since it is not always possible to for-see and avoid every schedule conflict, students will be allowed 2 “sick days” per year where he or she can cancel by 9:00 on the morning of the lesson and still receive a make-up lesson. Make-up lessons that cannot be rescheduled in the same week will be made up in December or July. Accommodations can also be made for family vacations with at least 2 weeks notice.

Testimonials

Student Progress Videos:

View some of Wendy’s students and see how they have progressed.

Contact

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