Adult Cello Academy
A word from co-founder, Ben Fried
As a cello teacher, I have found a special connection with my adult students. I have so much respect for these serious musicians. Whether it is continuing studies from their younger years or pursuing something entirely new, taking up classical music studies alongside a full-time career is no small feat. I empathize when I hear about their prior experiences, such as playing on recitals full of younger students and/or being dismissed by teachers. High-level adult learning is not only easily possible, but remarkably rewarding for the teacher and student personally and intellectually. The Fried Music Adult Cello Academy will run Sunday afternoons in order to further encourage a strong sense of community between like-minded, music lovers. We regular attendance to reap the full reward of progressive learning. We uphold our students in the highest regard, addressing all students with seriousness, care, and respect.
Meet the Coaches
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Eastman School of Music (BM; PC), Mannes School of Music (MM), USC Thornton School of Music (DMA)
Beginning his musical studies on piano at age two, Ben Fried displayed a penchant for music immediately, falling in love with cello only a year later. Hans Jensen, celebrated pedagogue and faculty at Northwestern University, recognized Ben’s talent and love of cello and took him in as a private student when he was only eleven years old. His mentors were Steven Doane, Timothy Eddy, and Andrew Shulman.
A passionate chamber musician, Dr. Fried founded the Monterey Piano Trio with his wife Connie Kim-Sheng and colleague Strauss Shi. Meeting as students at USC Thornton School of Music, the group connected through a shared love of the incredibly profound repertoire for the piano trio. Within months of their formation, the trio was invited as artist-in-residence at the Heifetz International Music Institute and has performed throughout the Los Angeles area to much acclaim.
An extremely passionate pedagogue, his students have been successful in many competitions and orchestra auditions. He is the cofounder of Fried Music and dean of its Pre-College Program, a non-profit full scholarship program for talented and young musicians.
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Colburn School of Music (BM), USC Thornton School of Music (MM)
A prize winner of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, Ben Solomonow has been featured on the American national radio stations WFMT and NPR, and has been invited to perform solo recitals, chamber recitals, and concertos in halls including the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Ravinia's Bennett-Gordon Hall, and the Seoul Arts Center.
As an active chamber musician, he has been a guest artist at the Ojai Music Festival, Festival Mozaic, the North Shore Chamber Music Festival, the Red Rocks Chamber Music Festival, and with the Chicago Chamber Musicians.
Having completed his Bachelor and Masters degrees at the Colburn Conservatory of Music under Clive Greensmith, Solomonow continued to pursue a Graduate Certificate under Ralph Kirshbaum at the University of Southern California. Other influential teachers have included Hans Jensen and Arnold Steinhardt.
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Northwestern Bienen School of Music (BM), USC Thornton School of Music (MM, Graduate Certificate)
Juan-Salvador Carrasco enjoys a multifaceted career as a cellist, composer, and teacher. He is the cellist and co-founder of the groundbreaking classical band, Astral Mixtape. The group collaboratively creates and performs original compositions and arrangements using a unique line-up of two violins, cello, piano, synthesizer, and electronics.
Juan-Salvador has performed chamber music with Itzhak Perlman, Anthony McGill (NY Phil principal clarinet), Philip Setzer (Emerson Quartet violinist), and Robert Chen (Chicago Symphony Concertmaster).
Juan-Salvador has a M.M. and a G.C. from USC’s Thornton School of Music, and a B.M. from Northwestern’s Bienen School of Music. His past cello teachers include Ralph Kirshbaum, Hans Jorgen Jensen, Ron Leonard, and Eleonore Schoenfeld.
