“The biggest improvisational contribution came from Seattle Rock Orchestra cello player, Emily Peterson. Her on-the-spot layering gave the night’s reflective folk-pop songs an extra hint of sensitive personality.”
Emily Ann Peterson’s cello was born in 1998 - 3 years after her own life as a cellist began. In the very short time she's been in Seattle, since 2008, her repertoire of involvement in the Seattle music scene (both through classical and non-traditional avenues) has grown at an exponential rate.
She is a Suzuki certified cello teacher with students ranging from 4-60+ years old. She volunteers for Whitman Middle School's exploratory orchestra class by coaching 15+ beginner cellists. In the non-traditional arena of music the following bands and artists have featured her in their recordings or performances: David Bazan, Jubilee, Grand Hallway, Graystar, Rosie Thomas, Shannon Stephens, Barcelona, Talitha Bullock, Star Anna, Damien Jurado, Jesse Sykes, and many more. Her classical repertoire of involvement includes membership in the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, a featured musician and collaborator for the Karin Stevens Dance Company, and a guest musician for the University of Washington's Opera Department.
Her mission to instill character development to any age, ability, or audience by revealing an authentic, vulnerable, and disciplined approach to both teaching and performing.
2010 is racking up quite an extensive list of wide variety of performances. 2009 held sharing the stage with Seattle-sensations like Rosie Thomas, Damien Jurado, Joshua Roman, Grand Hallway, Shannon Stephens, Tara Ward & Jesse Sykes.
Students, of all ages, taught under Emily receive the best type of positive, honest, and specific attention while spurring them on towards great character and achievement. She values not only excellent musicianship but quality human beings who love others - this is her goal for teaching anyone. Children hold the sweetest and purest love for others - Emily desires to nurture this type of love in all her cello students, of all ages, through music. She is a firm believer that music can be a food for love - if not, certainly the best environment for it.
Her study of the cello has occurred under accomplished names such as Myrna Trent, Vincent Pugh, Dr. Alexander Ezerman, and Dr. Nathan Whittaker. She received her training as a Suzuki teacher through excellent one-on-one pedagogy lessons from Dr. David Evenchick who has 30+ years of Suzuki teaching under his belt.
As well as classical, Emily is a talented improvisational cellist. She has performed with numerous types of musicians from blue grass, country, alternative rock, hard rock, jazz, mellow, to folk - the list goes on and on... She has performed in venues both big and small - Bass Hall (Fort Worth, TX), Triple Door (Seattle, WA), Benaroya Hall (Seattle, WA), sanctuaries, universities, and skuzzy bars (across the nation,) and Hemmle Hall (Lubbock, TX). She finds herself regularly collaborating with Karin Stevens (dancer), Jubilee: An Abolitionist band, & Talitha Bullock.
As a studio musician she brings her classical background and her improvisational composition skills to meet in the middle. There aren’t too many musicians who can marry those two skills for a successful and timely result in the recording studio. Book her cello chops today and click here for more information.
Business advice and a business mentoring relationship is key to making your life self-sustained as an artist. As a businesswoman, she gives consultation to other musicians who need "that special something to amp up their act." She received her Bachelor's of Business Management from Texas Tech University with a special emphasis on entrepreneurship and “makin’ sumin’ outta nuttin’.” She is the founder and executive director of a non-profit music project called Turkish Delight, which was featured in local TV and newspapers.
Today, you might find Emily amongst her spare time in the Fremont Abbey Arts Center’s basement doing web development, systems management, and public relations.
Emily is a member of the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Rock Orchestra, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (The Grammys), Fremont Abbey Arts Center, Suzuki Association of the Americas, and New Directions Cello Association. She is an alumnus of the Colorado Suzuki Institute & Texas Cello Academy, and has been a Faculty Member of the Fremont Music School.