Alma Engebretson, Cello & Piano

Alma Engebretson (they/them/theirs) is a recent graduate of the University of Denver with a Bachelor of Music in cello performance. Alma has a great love for chamber music and composition. Their chamber ensemble received Honorable Mention in the Lamont School of Music chamber competition. Alma has a wide range of repertoire. Both of their degree recitals contained a healthy mixture of periods with some emphasis on 20th century music and beyond, including their own compositions. In their Freshman and Sophomore years at Lamont, their chamber ensembles were invited to perform in Lamont’s String Chamber Honors concerts.

In addition to classical cello, Alma performs in a lot of improvisational jazz groups. One of these groups, SPACE, is made up of longtime members of the Twin Cities youth jazz scene. This group performs all original music and has released a professionally recorded album in the summer of 2019. In these groups they play a combination of cello and upright/electric bass. Alma has a lot of experience composing and improvising with peers, as well as sitting in with new people at jam sessions.

Alma has experience mentoring youth symphony cellists and coaching high school cello sectionals. Alma’s diverse experience in classical, jazz, and composition communities will provide a well-rounded education of each student. Each area of Alma’s study plays a part in their teaching philosophy, which centers around prioritizing the needs of the student and finding creative ways to make each lesson stick. Alma is certified Suzuki Teacher, and teaches both cello and piano.