Flora van Wormer - Biography

After playing the piano and violin as a child, Flora discovered the cello at age twelve. Cello has been her main passion ever since, although she has taken some time to explore other interests such as ecology and organic farming. Returning to school in 1996, Flora studied cello performance and began teaching Suzuki cello lessons at the University of Northern Iowa (B.M. 1998) She continued her study of cello performance at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, completing a master of music degree in 2000. In 2006, Flora traveled to New York City to finish her Suzuki teacher training with Pam Devenport at the School for Strings.

Upon graduation, Flora taught in the Cincinnati area and then lived in Western Massachusetts for five years. There, she taught cello in the public schools, a Waldorf school and privately. She also performed as a freelance cellist, played with the Pioneer Valley Symphony, and was in two bands- the Wholesale Klezmer Band and Druzhina (for Balkan folk dancing).

Flora began her study of the double bass at the University of Northern Iowa and continued to take lessons in Western Massachusetts. This summer she is taking a course in teaching Bass at the American Suzuki Institute in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. She currently plays bass with the Recons Klezmer Band and cello with the Monroe St. String Quartet.

Flora teaches independently and at the Monroe St. Fine Arts Center. She teaches students of all ages: cello-beginning through advanced, and bass- beginning through intermediate.