Cello Tuition · Melbourne
Oliver R Walsh
It doesn’t matter what level you’re at — it’s what you want to achieve.
Thirty years of teaching cellists of all ages and abilities, from first lessons through to tertiary auditions, conservatory students, orchestral auditions and scholarships.
You have for me been an extraordinary student.
In their words
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I was struck by his playing, which was warm and unpretentious, and stunned by the progress he had made in such a short period of time. I think he has a real talent for the cello. I would say a real cellist’s musicality, which I, as a cellist myself, highly appreciate.
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I was quickly under the impression that he is a superb and musical cellist of the highest calibre.
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Oliver Walsh is an extremely gifted cellist with an outstanding musical pedigree and musicality.
About
Thirty years
at the instrument.
With over 30 years of experience, I have taught students of all ages and skills. I specialise in coaching cellists to attain successful entries into tertiary positions, orchestras, and scholarships to Melbourne’s finest schools. I have a particular affinity repairing poor techniques, no matter how embedded.
I have a performance diploma from the Victorian College of the Arts (Henry Wenig), an AMEB Licentiate, and a performance degree from the Conservatorium of Amsterdam. I studied with Jean Decroos — former Solo-Cellist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, member of the Guarneri Trio, and pupil of Paul Tortelier and André Navarra — for five years, and have had master classes with Valter Despalj, Danielle Dechenne, Floris Mijnders, Daniel Esser, Olga Martinova, Amadeo Baldovino, Christoph Richter, Natalia Gutman and Pieter Wispelwey.
I have performed with all the major orchestras in the Netherlands, recorded for ABC Classic FM and 3MBS, and appeared on all the television networks in Australia and the Netherlands.
I’ve also performed with Meatloaf, James Taylor, and the Chieftains!
Students
What it’s like
to learn here.
Oliver is the most sophisticated teacher I have ever had, with an uncanny eye for detail. My playing has improved more than ever and I am playing music I never thought possible.
It is an absolute pleasure learning how to play the cello with Oliver. Each lesson is guided by my own performance goals, and Oliver patiently works with me to find a style and technique that works for me.
My son was seven and a half when he told me he wanted to learn cello seriously. A lot of time and effort was spent finding the right cello teacher, until we met Oliver. He is such an example of the perfect combination of patience and focus on the foundation technique of cello study. Being an academically educated musician, not only does Oliver have a lot of valuable things to offer my son, but he is also a true role model to an enthusiastic seven-and-a-half-year-old boy. Within as short as thirteen months since his first class with Oliver, my son achieved an A+ in his Grade 5 Cello AMEB exam — his second A+ AMEB result since studying with Oliver. Oliver is a very dedicated teacher who is serious about teaching his students musicianship and technique.
I was about to give up the cello. My technique was preventing me from advancing and achieving my dream of playing in an orchestra. I thought I could not break old habits and was going to quit, but thought I should give it one last go. Oliver has corrected and indeed reversed the myriad of my technical issues, and I have achieved my goal. If you ever seek to play with more freedom, or feel you aren’t improving, Oliver will find solutions with you in a compassionate and clear way.
Enquiries
Begin.
Tell me where you’re at and what you’d like to play. I’ll take it from there.