Noteworthy Strings

Erin has been an active freelance cellist and teacher in the Portland area for ten years and is currently in her 9th season with the Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra. She currently maintains a large studio of private cello students with locations in Vancouver and Gresham and is also on the faculty of Rose City Music Academy. She was appointed Assistant Principal Cellist of the Vancouver Symphony in 2007. During the 2008-2009 season Erin also performed with the Portland Chamber Orchestra, Oregon East Symphony, Portland Symphonic Choir, Portland Summerfest Opera Orchestra, Astoria Music Festival Orchestra, and in the BRAVO! Vancouver concert series. Erin has previously performed with the Newport Symphony and Rose City Chamber Orchestra. Erin has also been on the faculty of the Chamber Music Camp of Portland since 2008, and has served as section coach for Metropolitan Youth Symphony orchestras.

A strong proponent of new avenues for classical music, Erin has recorded and performed with the Portland Cello Project and several pop and Indie rock musicians in Portland. She is also an active member of Classical Revolution PDX and regularly joins the Filmusik orchestra, two projects that seek to expand performance opportunities for musicians in the Portland area. Erin is also active as a recitalist and plays with the Classical Revolution PDX String Quartet, Ruslan String Quartet, Fleur-de-Lis Trio, and the Silverwood Trio.

In addition to being an active professional cellist Erin holds a Masters in Counseling from Portland State University. She has previously worked as a mental health therapist and employment counselor. Erin has a particular interest in working with students who experience behavioral and/or emotional "blocks" to successful playing (for example, performance anxiety). Additionally, Erin's unique background makes her the ideal instructor for students with special learning needs. Erin works with each student to develop an individualized learning plan encompassing the following four curriculum areas:

* cello technique
* solo and ensemble repertoire
* music theory
* performance preparation

Erin's earliest cello teachers were Suzuki trained and she has applied the Suzuki curriculum successfully with many students. Erin develops individualized curricula for each student, drawing from the Suzuki volumes and recordings, étude and technique books of Kummer, Klengel, Lee and Galamian, and her own supplementary handouts.