Cello Lessons, Coachings for Chamber Music, Auditions, Competitions, and
Orchestral Music
Click on the carousel of studio photos below

During the pandemic or afterwards, lessons may occur in the studio or fully remote online  via Skype, Facebook Messenger Video, Zoom, and Google Meet apps.  The studio is very large and ample for on site, social distance learning, and/or outside in suitable weather.

Barbarossa says, "Get off the computer and put your cell phone down. Go practice & make music! "
Photo credit - David Furholmen,  a devoted longtime former cello student and friend)

Welcome to the Cellobration Studio!


Teaching Philosophy
 My teaching philosophy is a commitment to aiding cello students to enjoy and succeed in music studies through a supportive, fully engaged, and safe learning environment with encouragement, meaningful accountability, hope, and without judgment, blame, or shame. I truly enjoy helping and welcome students of all ages in private lessons, group classes, performance interaction, master classes, festivals, & youth orchestra coachings.  

Flexible scheduling options are available daily. To assist students achieve their goals, during lessons I share my musical knowledge, joy and passion for music, personal resources and time to share skills learned from vast experience as a recognized, multi award-winning professional musician, teacher, orchestral and public arts administrator, and music publisher.

Competition Winners: My students consistently sit on front stands in school orchestras and in the youth orchestra, participate in the Illinois State All-State Honor's Orchestra, receive the opportunity to play side by side with the CU Symphony and Eastern Symphony Orchestra, are winners for the East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra, BACH Young Artists, Sigma Alpha Iota Competitions, and CUSO Guild ISYM scholarship winners. Not to mention in my role as an orchestra personnel manager and area orchestral personnel advisor, when ready, my students will receive referrals and letters of agreement to play and be paid to perform with area professional orchestras or single engagements. 

Many students have continued their studies in graduate programs, became successful in performance & academia, earned full scholarships, teaching assistantships, & fellowships, won auditions & competitions, become performers in regional & major orchestras and opera companies, joined military bands, became studio teachers and arts administrators, orchestra personnel managers, music librarians, educators in public schools, universities, & theatre companies.  

Registration form:  Click here to email your request for a lesson registration form. Please type the information & submit the form by e-mail or in person with payment for the semester at the first lesson made out to my name by cash, check, or Zelle to  vcello1@comcast.net. 

Gift Certificates - For a truly unique and valued gift, give a gift certificate for private lessons.  Often family members select this option as a present to delight their loved ones on special occasions.  

Meet the Professor:  Look no further for consistent lessons, flexible schedules, good parental communication, & not getting bounced around between graduate student teachers every year. Lessons are available in person or online daily with flexible days and times (with exceptions for holidays). Study weekly, bi-weekly, or more when performance & audition deadlines loom. As a parent, I try to be flexible & understanding of student's and parent's busy schedules.
Students receive custom-tailored, supportive, and patient attention. Established teaching methods & materials are used, with adjustments to accommodate ages, technical levels, learning ability, concentration levels, & musical interests. Requests to learn classical, popular, film, or video game tunes are honored. Cellists are encouraged to seek opportunities to play in ensembles, chamber music, recitals, attend concerts, utilize recordings & videos, attend master classes & music camps to build skills, awareness, musical knowledge, personal networks, and fond memories. Lessons include music theory & history awareness, & focus on efficient, healthy playing. Students are encouraged how to practice, work effectively & independently, through adaptive instruction blended with moral support.

Need Practice Advice? E-mail me for 2 free, helpful articles.  Expand sight reading abilities & overcome sight reading anxiety. Prepare for performance, auditions & competitions. Cover varied repertoires & styles. Develop a beautiful, strong tone. Learn orchestral survival tips. Learn facets of the "music business". Be versatile & learn positive lifelong benefits of studying & playing music.

Teaching Affiliations:  Present: Cellobration Studio, Peoria Youth Music Illinois and East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra cello sectional coachings, Central IL CelloFest, auditions & regional competition adjudicator

Previous teaching affiliations: Wilkes College, Illinois Council of Orchestras Strings at Allerton Symposium, University of Illinois School of Music Guest Faculty/ISYM Summer Youth Music Camps/& OLLI Program, Illinois Wesleyan University & Summer Music Camps, Illinois State University Guest Faculty, Parkland Community College Guest Faculty, Conservatory of Central Illinois, Springfield Summer Strings Camp, & Eureka College Summer Arts Strings Festivals.

 IWU Cello ensemble concert videos are on my YouTube Channel.                     

Teaching feedback from parents, students, and professional colleagues
is below or view this link

Mrs. Hyunjung Noh, Parent - "Jeana loves the cello and enjoys playing because of you. There is no one like you. Jeana really enjoys your teaching and admires you. My respect and admiration for you as a daughter's cello teacher cannot be expressed in words. Thank you for being here for our community and Jeana! Many blessings be with you! "

Mrs. Jeong- in Choi - "Thanks for your efforts and great cello lessons. Daniel really enjoys playing cello." 

Kutasha Silva, DMA - Former UI Doctoral Student -"Maestra Hedlund, it is always such a delight to work and grow musically with you. Your mentorship and support during my time in CU has been tremendously valuable. I look forward to more lessons and/or future collaborations."
Keith & Michelle Singletary, UI Professor of Foods & Nutrition -Michelle and I want to express our sincere appreciation for the excellent and patient cello instruction you have given Larissa the past couple years. Your musical input has been outstanding.  We consider it a privilege for her to have studied with you.”

Jenny Chi, Eastern Illinois University Art Professor/former cello student - “Last summer I thought I was just looking for a cello teacher, but she turns out to be a good friend & a good connection for my artistic career. Amazing! Thank you so much for your words of support & friendship. I will cherish them. I have learned a lot from you and made good steady progress in learning to play a difficult instrument. Getting to know you has been such a positive development in my life. At this minute I am gathering newspaper reviews & reports for my annual portfolio required for my tenure track evaluation. And guess what, I REALLY have to thank you. Half of my "accomplishments" are because of your referrals and connections. I just could not believe it!"

Mrs. Lani McAuley - "I can't tell you how much I am enjoying lessons with you. You are an awesome, caring, encouraging, generous, and kind teacher. I appreciate all your insights and loved playing with you. The best sign of a good teacher is if the student wants to do well at lessons....and you inspire me to do well and work hard (even if it doesn't come easily). I feel very lucky to have you as a teacher and can't thank you enough for your mentorship. Thank you, thank you!"

Mrs. Susan Boston - “You have great gifts as a teacher, administrator, communicator, and you're a good friend too. You're loaded!!

Dr. Chee Hyeon Choi, Instructor of Music in Residence at Bradley University - "I first collaborated with Ms. Hedlund through the music concert series she used to organize at Carle Hospital in 2012. Soon after, my son was fortunate to be her cello student for a year until we moved to another city. She has been extremely encouraging, patient, and influential teacher and mentor to my son even after we moved. Under Ms. Hedlund's guidance, my son was able to successfully make cello principal in East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra (ECIYO) and honor quartet, 3rd place in the Young Artist Baroque Competition and performed as one of the concerto soloists at the Eureka Summer String camp. She is such a dedicated teacher as much as attending almost every concert that my son was involved and gave invaluable feedback. Ms. Hedlund is also very resourceful in music scores and in connecting with other musicians that my son was able to obtain reliable scores and be introduced in other musicians to learn from. She frequently shared us with good performances, recordings and scores to enhance understanding. Her passion on teaching and performance exceedingly qualifies for college music faculty position. Her invaluable mentoring, insights of the music not only elevated my son's performance quality, but also greatly influenced me. I am a piano faculty at Bradley University, and I have performed with her 2 times of my faculty chamber recitals at Bradley in 2016 and 2017, and 3 trio performances on the Windsor of Savoy music series. Ms. Hedlund is an outstanding teacher, musician, collaborator, mentor, active performer, and a scholar. I believe she will be a great asset for your college."

Roger Garrett, IL Wesleyan University Professor of Clarinet, Director Concert Band, Titan Band & Symphonic Winds/emeritus May 2020, Principal Clarinet Peoria Symphony - "Our cello studio at IWU has never been as large as it was when you taught here. I attribute this to your good recruiting. Your work for the school was great.”

Dr. Robert Kvam, former Director Illinois Wesleyan University School of Music - “Mrs. Hedlund's students perform at a consistently high level and obviously enjoy their work with her. Her wealth of experience and broad knowledge of all types
 of repertoire serve her well as both teacher and coach. We are indeed fortunate to have Barbara in this capacity."

The Late Jack Ranney, Professor Emeritus UI School of Music, Conductor CU Symphony Youth Concerts & Parkland Orchestra (1937- 2020) - “We received many positive comments about your coaching and clinic sessions. I feel this was one of our best symposiums based on the reactions of so many of the participants. Thank you again for your contribution to the success of the event.” Visit the Strings@Allerton Facebook page.

Christian Schrock, former Drake University Cello Professor & Orchestra Conductor - "I have often thought back on the way that you helped me prepare for the youth orchestra auditions right after I started studying with you [as my first cello teacher]. Your way of tailoring the "curriculum" to my method of learning and where I was as a player, rather than following a prescribed course through a method book has definitely shaped me as a player and also a teacher."  

The late Dr. Robert Henderson, UI Professor Emeritus Special Education - “We appreciate your interest in Matt. I know the reason he continues with the cello is because he values you as a human being as well as a cello instructor.”

Ethan Chambers: "Thank you for the near decade I studied cello with you. Only now has it dawned on me how patient, understanding, and enriching you and that time and experience were. Now that I am older, I have truly come to understand how beautiful listening and playing music is. But I suppose I will only continue to appreciate music. Even more in years from now will the extent of your wisdom and aid to me hopefully will be something I will be able to pass on to others. With that said, I will continue to play the cello until I do not have the strength."

University of Illinois OLLI Course Evaluation "Beyond the Footlights at the Symphony":

Contact Barbara Hedlund - 9AM-9PM CST Daily | Music Studio - 505 Eliot Drive, Urbana, IL 61801- 6727,
C/Txt: 217-384-0874, No FAX | E-mail: vcello1@comcast.net