When you study cello at CIM, you’ll be well-equipped for a diverse career. It starts with your weekly private lessons and continues with master classes, solo recitals, chamber ensembles, orchestra and new music ensembles—as well as specialized repertoire classes to prepare for professional auditions. 

From orchestral and pedagogy training to the collaborative duo seminar and advanced trio program, your experiences all work in concert to prepare you for the exciting opportunities ahead. 

Notably, six members of The Cleveland Orchestra cello section studied at CIM. Cello graduate students can choose to pursue a Masters of Music in Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy, learn more about the program. 

Alumni Success

Meet Alan Richardson

Alan Richardson

New York-based cellist Alan Richardson (BM ’10, Kraut) maintains a packed touring schedule as a member of the award-winning Aeolus Quartet. Richardson has performed across North America, Europe and Asia, and in halls such as Carnegie, Severance, Wigmore, Seoul Arts Center and Shanghai Oriental Arts Center. In addition to his work with the Aeolus Quartet, he has performed as a guest with the NYC-based chamber collective Decoda, and with the Mark Morris Dance Group. Richardson currently holds a position of professorial lecturer at George Washington University. He has served as a teaching assistant at The University of Texas, University of Maryland and Juilliard School.

Photo credit: Christian Steiner

Notable Alumni

  • Matthew Allen, (BM '13, Kraut), soloist
  • Alex Cox, (BM '13, Kraut), member of the Omer Quartet 
  • Patricia Garvey (MM '07, Geber), cellist with the Grand Rapids Symphony and Santa Barbara Symphony
  • Lillia Keyes (BM '08, Geber), member of Duo Nuage and performs regularly with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and the Staatskapelle Berlin 
  • Lars Kirvan (BM '03, Geber) and Benjamin Krug (MM '06, PS '08, Geber), members of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
  • Schuyler Slack (BM '11, MM '13, Geber/Kosower), member of the Richmond Symphony 
  • Clayton Vaughn, (MM '09, Kraut/Geber), member of "The President's Own" United States Marine Band
  • Nathaniel Yaffe, (BM '09, MM '10, Kraut/Aaron), member of the North Carolina Symphony

Concerts and events

Mar 29 Fri
7:30 pm
First Master of Music Recital: Hayley Camp, violin
Strings, Conservatory Student Recitals
Mar 30 Sat
1:00 pm
First Master of Music Recital: Liam Battle, cello
Strings, Conservatory Student Recitals
Mar 31 Sun
7:00 pm
First Master of Music Recital: Miles Huang, violin
Strings, Conservatory Student Recitals
Apr 1 Mon
1:30 pm
Junior Recital: Angelina Dong, violin
Strings, Conservatory Student Recitals
Apr 5 Fri
4:00 pm
Senior Recital: Benjamin Mekinulov, cello
Strings, Conservatory Student Recitals