ILIA (Illinois-Iowa) Cello Exchange

A native of the Chicago area, Sally Gross is currently Cello Director at the Western Springs School of Talent Education and the Naperville Suzuki School. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Northern Illinois University where she studied with Marc Johnson, and a Masters of Music in Suzuki Pedagogy from Ithaca College where she worked with Carey Beth Hockett and Sandy and Joan Reuning. Before returning to the Chicago area in 2004, Sally taught at the Suzuki String School of Guelph in Ontario where she was also Artistic Coordinator. She has been a teacher trainer since 1990. As a dual citizen of the US and Canada, Sally has a keen interest in expanding Dr. Suzuki’s vision in both countries through her leadership, teacher training, and guest clinician appearances.

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Alex Revoal holds a Bachelor of Music from Lawrence University. He earned a Master of Music degree in cello performance and pedagogy, and a Performance Certificate from Northern Illinois University, where he studied with Marc Johnson of the Grammy-nominated Vermeer Quartet. He has had Suzuki training with Ed Kreitman, Jean Dexter, Nancy Hair, Pamela Devenport, Gilda Barston, Carey-Beth Hockett, Katherine Wood and Sally Gross, and has earned the SAA Certificate of Achievement, level 1. In the summer of 2017 he participated in Carey Beth Hockett’s Group Class Techniques teaching fellowship. Formerly on the faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago, Alex is the Cello Program Director at the Western Springs School of Talent Education/Naperville Suzuki School, where he co-directs the summer chamber camp, and the advanced cello ensemble, Cellissimo.

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Laura Shaw is on the cello faculty of the Preucil School of Music. She is also Assistant Principal of Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra. Laura earned her D.M.A. from the University of Iowa, and her Masters of Music from the Hartt School of Music, where she received her Suzuki training from Pamela Devenport.

Laura has won numerous awards, including the Pelzer Award at the University of Iowa, and a fellowship to attend the Aspen Music Festival. She has performed with Orchestra Iowa, Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony, and with the Corridor Piano Trio.

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