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Favorite Treat - Chocolate Chip Cookies
Favorite Color - Royal Blue Favorite Books - Historical Fiction Favorite Composer - J.S. Bach Favorite Way to Spend the Weekend - On skis, on a bike, or climbing rocks |
Worst Nightmare - Ants in the House
Dislikes - Smelly things Most Embarrassing Moment - Discovering my piano accompanist had gone to the bathroom the moment I was to be on stage performing Dream Vacation - Riding a bicycle across Europe |
Megan's Musical Story
Megan's music studies began on the piano at the age of 6, the same year she learned to ski on Utah’s famous snow. Later, she started the cello at age 12 and was the first cellist in the family after generations of violinists. She started her teaching career at the age of 14 by sharing her piano expertise with neighbor kids.
Her music studies took her to Utah State University where she completed a Bachelor’s of Music in Cello Performance with significant coursework in Piano Pedagogy. She continued studying at the University of Colorado at Boulder where she earned a Master’s degree in Cello Performance. In Colorado, Megan fell in love with the adventure of rock climbing in the Rocky Mountains. She also deepened her teaching skills by teaching early childhood music and movement classes and continuing Suzuki cello teacher training. She performed frequently as Assistant Principal Cello with the Boulder Chamber Orchestra and was a founding member of the MEO Quartet. Additionally, she played with the Fort Collins Symphony, Front Range Strings, and Telling Stories, where she played solo and chamber music.
A few years after graduate school, Megan relocated to Salt Lake City, UT and developed a thriving teaching studio of Suzuki cellists. She became the Cello Representative for the Suzuki Association of Utah and participated heavily in the planning of conferences and cello events. She was in high demand as a studio cellist and freelance musician, often found playing in the recording studio for Hollywood soundtracks, Broadway musicals, or new hits by Utah’s top artists. She enjoyed playing for Ballet West, Kurt Bestor, and even the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. But often, her favorite moments were finding serenity while cycling up the winding Utah canyon roads or playing solo Bach in a house concert.
In 2015, Megan’s adventurous heart pulled her to accept a teaching position in Cusco, Peru. There, she became bilingual and taught cellists in the Suzuki community and mentored the cellists of the Cusco Symphony. She enjoyed many performing opportunities in Peru including a guest artist performance in the Biennial Cello Festival in Lima. Megan traveled extensively throughout South America and even braved the Pan-American highway on a 4-month road trip from Peru to Seattle while living in a camper van.
Megan has been invited to teach at many music festivals, summer camps, and Suzuki institutes, including Music and Arts Exchange (WA), Intermountain Suzuki String Institute (UT), Bryce Canyon Music Camp (UT), DFW-WOW (TX), National Cello Institute (CA), Live Arts Festival (Mexico), and the International Suzuki Festival (Peru). She enjoys the intensive atmosphere and commitment that festivals bring, and especially enjoys meeting a student exactly where they are and helping them rise to their potential.
In 2017, Megan relocated to Seattle, WA to build a cello studio. She teaches from home in Beacon Hill and also teaches in Olympia with the Suzuki program at Gospel Outreach Church. She has enjoyed playing with the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, but especially loves playing chamber music. She and pianist, Hillary Nordwell, have formed a duo and continue to put on concerts annually. Megan also participates actively in the Suzuki community as a board member of both the Suzuki Association of Washington State and the Japan Seattle Suzuki Institute. In 2022, Megan completed a dream of performing all six of the Bach Cello Suites.
Megan and her husband, Tyson, continue to explore mountains on skis, on a bike or on a trail. They enjoy hiking with their son, Augustus, and doodle, Millie. At home they love cooking up delicious food in the kitchen or reading a good book.
Oct 2022
Her music studies took her to Utah State University where she completed a Bachelor’s of Music in Cello Performance with significant coursework in Piano Pedagogy. She continued studying at the University of Colorado at Boulder where she earned a Master’s degree in Cello Performance. In Colorado, Megan fell in love with the adventure of rock climbing in the Rocky Mountains. She also deepened her teaching skills by teaching early childhood music and movement classes and continuing Suzuki cello teacher training. She performed frequently as Assistant Principal Cello with the Boulder Chamber Orchestra and was a founding member of the MEO Quartet. Additionally, she played with the Fort Collins Symphony, Front Range Strings, and Telling Stories, where she played solo and chamber music.
A few years after graduate school, Megan relocated to Salt Lake City, UT and developed a thriving teaching studio of Suzuki cellists. She became the Cello Representative for the Suzuki Association of Utah and participated heavily in the planning of conferences and cello events. She was in high demand as a studio cellist and freelance musician, often found playing in the recording studio for Hollywood soundtracks, Broadway musicals, or new hits by Utah’s top artists. She enjoyed playing for Ballet West, Kurt Bestor, and even the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. But often, her favorite moments were finding serenity while cycling up the winding Utah canyon roads or playing solo Bach in a house concert.
In 2015, Megan’s adventurous heart pulled her to accept a teaching position in Cusco, Peru. There, she became bilingual and taught cellists in the Suzuki community and mentored the cellists of the Cusco Symphony. She enjoyed many performing opportunities in Peru including a guest artist performance in the Biennial Cello Festival in Lima. Megan traveled extensively throughout South America and even braved the Pan-American highway on a 4-month road trip from Peru to Seattle while living in a camper van.
Megan has been invited to teach at many music festivals, summer camps, and Suzuki institutes, including Music and Arts Exchange (WA), Intermountain Suzuki String Institute (UT), Bryce Canyon Music Camp (UT), DFW-WOW (TX), National Cello Institute (CA), Live Arts Festival (Mexico), and the International Suzuki Festival (Peru). She enjoys the intensive atmosphere and commitment that festivals bring, and especially enjoys meeting a student exactly where they are and helping them rise to their potential.
In 2017, Megan relocated to Seattle, WA to build a cello studio. She teaches from home in Beacon Hill and also teaches in Olympia with the Suzuki program at Gospel Outreach Church. She has enjoyed playing with the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, but especially loves playing chamber music. She and pianist, Hillary Nordwell, have formed a duo and continue to put on concerts annually. Megan also participates actively in the Suzuki community as a board member of both the Suzuki Association of Washington State and the Japan Seattle Suzuki Institute. In 2022, Megan completed a dream of performing all six of the Bach Cello Suites.
Megan and her husband, Tyson, continue to explore mountains on skis, on a bike or on a trail. They enjoy hiking with their son, Augustus, and doodle, Millie. At home they love cooking up delicious food in the kitchen or reading a good book.
Oct 2022
