BORN IN JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, Melissa Solomon grew up in a family of professional musicians where she developed an early passion for both performance and teaching. During High School she received a full scholarship to study at Interlochen Arts Academy, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She immigrated to the United States, graduating from the Juilliard School in New York City where she studied cello with Timothy Eddy, and chamber music with Robert Mann, Earl Carlyss, and Jonathan Feldman.

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MUSIC HAS THE POWER TO INSPIRE, HEAL AND CONNECT PEOPLE. This core belief drives Melissa’s passion for teaching.  While studying in New York City, she participated in Juilliard’s Community Fellowship Program, which brings music to diverse audiences throughout the city’s metropolitan areas. 

MELISSA SOLOMON CELLO STUDIO quickly developed into a thriving community following graduation from Juilliard and a move to Pasadena, California.  She started the cello program at Suzuki Talent Education of Pasadena (STEP), as well as founded and directed  Project C.E.L.L.O.—-a uniquely inspiring course in performance education.

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SERVING AS FACULTY FOR NATIONWIDE PROGRAMS is crucial to vitality in a Studio.  Melissa values the professional development and perspective she gains from her consistent participation in quality programs around the world. She has been faculty for for Alaska Cello Intensive, National Cello Institute Winter workshop in Pomona, the Lone Star Young Artists Program in Dallas, Colorado Suzuki Institute, DFW WOW Suzuki Institute, Intermountain Suzuki String Institute, the Suzuki Strings by the Bay summer institute in Berkeley and Nevada School of the Arts Summer Strings Camp. She regularly gives master classes at workshops throughout her home state of Texas. 

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A FULLY TRAINED AND REGISTERED SUZUKI TEACHER, Melissa’s coursework was mentored by Suzuki Teacher-trainers Pamela Devenport, Nancy Hair, Sally Gross, Carol Tarr, Jean Dexter, and Rick Mooney. Melissa has been a member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas since 2005.

IN ADDITION TO TEACHING, MELISSA HAS A LOVE OF PLAYING. She has appeared throughout the United States, Europe and South Africa, including New York, London, Florence, Edinburgh, Johannesburg and Cape Town. She has appeared at music festivals, among them the Accademia Chigiana (Italy), the Edinburgh International Festival (Scotland), the Bucknell Quartet Program (Pennsylvania) and the Franschoek Chamber Music Festival (South Africa). Highlights included a solo recital at Lincoln Center’s Paul Hall (NY), performances at the Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi (Italy) and leading the Juilliard Symphony celli at Carnegie Hall (NY) under the baton of James de Priest.

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MELISSA LIVES IN AUSTIN, TEXAS where she teaches private lessons, directs her South Austin Cello Choir and plays chamber music. When she is not teaching or playing the cello, she loves to write, draw and ride bikes with her two delightful children ages 8 and 6,  and their rambunctious black lab, and spend precious time with family and friends discussing all sorts of ideas, playing games and laughing together.