Hello, I'm Emily T.

Emily Torkelson is a performer, researcher, pedagogue, and teacher of cello. As a performer, she has played from coast to coast, and in many of the states in-between, giving solo performances, collaborating with others to give chamber performances, or in an extensive orchestral capacity, which often sees her leading the orchestra’s cello section. As a researcher and pedagogue, Torkelson has undergone long-term Suzuki teacher training and is a registered Suzuki cello teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas. She is continuing to hone her research and pedagogy skills as a doctoral candidate in cello performance at the University of Minnesota, where she studies with world-renowned cello soloist and pedagogue Matt Haimovitz. As a teacher, Torkelson believes that everything is at the service of creating beautiful sounds and beautiful music. To that end, she incorporates a holistic approach to teaching and playing that includes a strong technical foundation, close listening, movement, and mindfulness. Torkelson believes in the importance of meeting every student where they are at and helping them to realize their own unique goals on the instrument, no matter how large or small. Torkelson holds a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from Texas Christian University and a Master of Music in Cello Performance from UW-Madison, where she studied with Juliette Herlin and Matthew Zalkind, respectively. She received her long-term Suzuki teacher training from the University of Denver’s Lamont Suzuki Strings program under teacher-trainer Heather Hadley. She has performed for and alongside many leading performers and pedagogues, including Richard Aaron, Zlatomir Fung, Horacio Contreras, Nicholas Kitchen, Moni Simeonov, Joyce DiDonato, Alban Gerhardt, and many others. Torkelson is currently based in the Twin Cities.