Lydia - May 2023

Lydia is graduating! She will be leaving Redbird, Western Albemarle HS, and the goats of Crozet to head to New York. At Cornell, Lydia will study Architecture. She dreamed it and she's doing it! We are so proud.

Lydia has been taking lessons with Erin since 7th grade, partway through her cello learning. She is an active member of Performance Lab and YOCVA Youth Symphony. Lydia is also an artist, dedicated student and supportive listener. Lydia's kind heart, easy laughter, earnestness and creative spirit will be missed around Redbird, and we cannot wait to find out who she becomes!

Come show your support of Lydia's music journey at her SENIOR RECITAL at Westminster Presbyterian on Saturday, May 20th, 2023 at 11am. Bach Cello Suites, Beethoven and the cello classic Song of the Birds is all on the program.

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!