November 2022 - Sonya

Sonya is one of the original Redbirds, a student since before its beginning. She is one of two cellists in her family and has been seen at recent recitals playing duets with her dad. Sonya is a student at Monticello HS and has played in their orchestra. She is also a member of YOCVA Youth Orchestra and Redbird Performance Lab. She is employed as a host at Timberwood Grill at 5th Street Station. She takes care of her horse, Huckleberry, and another, Peaches. Sonya is a kind and supportive cellist, always ready to tell another student what they've done well and what she admires about their playing. She seems to value the relationships she can make with others she plays with. She is also getting pretty good at parallel parking.

Catch Sonya and her father Daniel play all 3 movements of the Vivaldi Double Concerto in G Minor with Brooke Dezio on piano at Mudhouse in Crozet on November 19th! Proceeds benefit The Haven. If you're lucky, you can catch her again on November 20th at the CMTA Youth Recital playing Dotzauer or at Redbird Performance Lab!

October 2022 - Laila

Laila is a student at Redbird RVA and she is a trooper! She began cello at Robious Middle School in Chesterfield County in the pandemic before taking lessons with me at Orbital Music Park in November 2021. Laila is Redbird's first RVA student! Laila took lessons in person at OMP (and sometimes online) until OMP announced their closing for renovations. Beginning next Friday, Laila will be the first student at Redbird RVA's new spot at Westminster Presbyterian on Monument Avenue. Thanks, Laila and fam, for running around with Redbird to OMP, Westminster, and the virtual realm!

Enough about Redbird, though.

Laila is a lovely student. She's earnest and she laughs easily. Her purpose at the start of lessons was to be sure she was caught up with the school orchestra program, which absorbed her beginner level into their upper grade. She has worked hard at that and is thriving there. She is able to approach her school music easily and has moved on to tackling solo repertoire, shifting and working on mindful bow movement. Laila runs cross country, watches cooking shows and is clearly ready for the holidays!

September 2021 - Rae

Meet Rae! One of several adult students at Redbird, Rae has been taking lessons for 3 years. She's successfully completed 2 RCM exams and is currently working in Suzuki book 3. She completed an Adult Music Theory course through the Richmond Symphony School of Music. Rae is a patient and determined learner.

Rae sends a lovely little watercolor on natural paper every month. For the Redbird art project, Rae did two watercolors that were inspired by the Yo-Yo Ma poster hanging up at Redbird, which was designed by Godie Arboleda. Rae likes bird watching with her husband, Leron, going to Integral Yoga, and spending time with family. Rae's latest grandchild was born last week. Meet Rae at performance lab this year, around Redbird, or come see her play on the October 8th recital!