Erin Ratzlaf

Portland, Oregon cellist Erin Ratzlaf is accepting students of all ages. Erin has over 25 years of experience as a cello teacher, and has served on the faculty of Portland’s Community Music Center, Rose City Music Academy, Oregon Episcopal School, Lake Oswego School District’s Suzuki-inspired elementary strings program, and the Chamber Music Camp of Portland. In addition to providing individual and group instruction, Erin is sought-after as an adjudicator, coach, chamber music collaborater and session musician. She has adjudicated for organizations including the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, WMEA, OMEA, and OMTA. Erin is currently a cellist with the Vancouver Symphony, the Portland Chamber Orchestra, and the Oregon Coast Music Festival Orchestra. She has performed with arts organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest including 10 seasons with the Columbia Symphony and 5 seasons with the Astoria Music Festival Orchestra. She has appeared with many other groups including the Pearl Chamber Orchestra with the Oregon Music Festival, Newport Symphony, Eugene Symphony, Yakima Symphony, Oregon East Symphony, and Walla Walla Symphony. Erin has been involved in Portland’s alt classical scene including performances with Classical Revolution PDX, FearNoMusic, and the Portland Cello Project, two appearances on OPB’s Art Beat and multiple appearances on All Classical FM radio. Recently she joined pianist Naomi LaViolette and Neuroscientist Dr Larry Sherman for a program called “Music and the Brain” for Science on Tap. Erin studied Suzuki philosophy and method with Ann Grabe, Edmund Sprunger, Susan Baer, Priscilla Jones, Shu-Yi Scott, Carol Tarr, Andrea Yun, and Carey Beth Hockett. Her primary cello teachers were David Tonkonogui (Seattle Symphony), Hans Jensen (Northwestern University) and Nancy Ives (Oregon Symphony). In addition to her work as a cellist, Erin holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Portland State University and has previously worked as a therapist and crisis counselor. She resides in Portland with her cellist husband and their 3 children.