Chelsia Evans

Credentials & Qualifications

What I teach

• Genres
  • Classical
  • Baroque
  • Folk / Traditional
• Subjects
  • Performance Preparation

About Me

Chelsia holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Violin Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Utah. Chelsia has been teaching private violin and viola lessons for 30 years, including several years at the Utah Conservatory in Park City with Eugene Watanabe, several years with the Black Hills Suzuki School, and has always maintained an active private sutdio. She has extensive orchestral and string quartet/chamber experience as a violinist, violist and coach. Past positions include: chamber coach with the Chamber Music Project of Logan, UT and the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County, member of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra, Associate Concertmaster of the Bucks County Symphony Orchestra, assoc. concertmaster of the Black Hills Symphony Orchestra, co-concertmaster of the University of Utah Philharmonia, and member of the acclaimed Orchestra at Temple Square. Chelsia currently plays with the American Festival Chorus and Orchestra, is the Administrative Executive Director of Cache Youth Orchestras, serves on the board of the Suzuki Association of Utah as the Cache Valley Region chair for SAU, and maintains a full private violin/viola studio. She enjoys collaborating with and learning from other dedicated teachers and musicians, and finds joy and fulfillment in nurturing young and old lives with music. Chelsia and her husband, Sam, have five children/developing musicians with whom she loves to share the gift of music. Chelsia is dedicated to growing and maintaining the rich educational and musical opportunities in Cache Valley and beyond.

How I Teach

I have trained in many traditional pedagogy approaches. I am a trained Suzuki student and teacher. I believe every child can and should benefit from musical training. It is my job to find the best way to approach the study of music with each child and adapt to their needs...to help them find the joy of learning! I am a technique-focused teacher (I know the value of solid technique to facilitate ease of playing musically) I love discovering new ways of teaching proper technique with each student. Every human is different in their learning style and personality. Pedagogy cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach. Learning should be about discovery, fun, exploring sound and possibility. My teaching is a combination of the vision and path to get there that I have for a student, and the student's own vision and desires....I feel like my role is to gently guide and help them find their own musical voice/tone, so that the student is empowered and feels ownership of their musical journey.

Why I Teach

Music lessons are not always about creating a violinist or violist, but about creating a noble human being, and strengthening the bond between parent and child. My teaching philosophy says: I believe children are strong, that they are capable, that they can learn to do anything and to do anything well with the right instruction and the right support. I believe that working through things that are difficult and take effort creates a strong bond between parent and child and allows them to become closer. I believe that studying music cultivates character, and discipline, and empathy, and understanding, and appreciation for beautiful things; that it lifts us to a higher plane. I believe that experiencing music allows children to feel these noble attributes and become noble people themselves. I believe that love is the greatest motivator and that, in the words of Dr. Suzuki, "Where love is deep, much can be accomplished." Because I believe all these things, I believe in teaching music to children to allow them to become noble, strong, beautiful people. This is why I teach.