Juilliard Pre-College Graduate, current Rice University student

Prestin K.

I am currently a 20 year-old cellist attending the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University and pursuing a bachelor’s degree under the tutelage of Norman Fischer. Before coming to Rice, I studied at Juilliard Pre-College for 5 years with Amy Barston, where I won their annual concerto competition and performed the Monn Cello Concerto in G Minor with the orchestra. Additionally, I was selected for the National Symphony Orchestra’s Youth Fellowship program and attended throughout high school, studying under James Lee. I have attended the Heifetz Summer Institute and the Bowdoin Summer Festival multiple times, studying with teachers such as Zlatomir Fung and Hans Jensen. I am from Fairfax, Virginia, and I have played the cello since I was 9 years old. Outside of playing the cello, I absolutely love to fish and be out on the water!

I believe that every student has their own unique musical voice, and my goal as a teacher is to help each student develop strong fundamentals to bring out that voice effectively, while building confidence and enjoyment in playing the cello. My teaching approach will of course vary depending on the student's needs, but examples include building a healthy technique, making beautiful and natural sound, musical expressivity, and technicality (intonation, posture, bow control, rhythm, etc.) As a tutor and someone who has gone through the many stages of learning the cello, I understand the challenges students face and strive to make lessons supportive, engaging, and effective.

I welcome all students of beginner to intermediate levels, whether you are a complete beginner learning their first notes, someone more intermediate preparing for auditions or performances, or simply somebody who simply enjoys playing the cello.