Emily Torkelson

American cellist Emily Torkelson began her musical journey at age four, and today enjoys a
career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, and pedagogue. She
has performed from coast to coast, and in many of the states in-between, including in notable
venues such as the Van Cliburn Concert Hall and Moody Performance Hall in Dallas-Fort Worth,
the Mead Witter Concert Hall in Madison, and the Jacobs Music Center in San Diego. Notable
performances include the world premiere of Song: for English Ivy by Oliver Hecht, the US
premiere of Saudade Fantasia by Joey Eng, a showcase performance with the TCU Symphony
at the Texas Music Educators Association conference in San Antonio, a 30-person cello choir
performance in collaboration with Texas Cellos, and a special collaboration with ballet dancer Ali
Marshall and choreographer Joy Bollanger featuring selections from Bach’s second cello suite
accompanied by dance.
As an educator, Torkelson strives to help her students discover the joys of playing cello through
a holistic pedagogy that combines a strong technical foundation, bodily awareness, and
mindfulness while simultaneously working with her students to develop their listening abilities
and the practical application of music theory concepts. Torkelson received long-term Suzuki
teacher training from the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music, where she also held a
graduate teaching assistantship in music theory. She is currently a registered cello teacher with
the Suzuki Association of the Americas.
Torkelson received her Bachelor of Music from Texas Christian University and her Master of Music from UW–Madison. She is currently a DMA candidate in cello performance at the University of Minnesota, where she studies with Matt Haimovitz. Her past instructors include Jesus Castro-Balbi, Juliette Herlin, and Matt Zalkind.