A few words about my teaching.
“Alicia is THE teacher for young and older beginners alike.There is no one who is as adept at the technical and musical setup of students of the cello. Certainly, there is no one whom I would entrust more with the responsibility of introducing the art of cello playing to beginners and expanding upon it as their development matures. I cannot recommend her more highly.”
Bartholomew LaFollette, Principal Professor,
“I am the mother of one of Alicia's cello students, and am also a violin teacher who is extremely picky about choosing music teachers for my own children. My "focus challenged" ADHD son started Suzuki cello lessons with Alicia when he was 8 years old, and under her kind, but persistent and meticulous tutelage progressed to become principal cello of the Tennessee All State orchestra in high school. He is now a cello performance major at a university well- known for its music program. As a college freshman, he is principal cello of the undergraduate orchestra. I attribute much of his success to Alicia's demanding but loving expertise as a Suzuki teacher. We are both lucky to have had the experience of working with her."
Susan S., mother of Alex, Florida State University scholarship recipient
“As a long-time colleague of Alicia, I write with great regard for her as a cellist and teacher. Among our many colleagues I find in her a particular combination of attributes rarely to be discovered together in one individual. The interaction of these gifts has created in her a musician and teacher of great caliber. Her presence in her locale is a resource that would vastly enrich any community. She has settled in a place away from the main musical, cultural, and intellectual centers of the U.S. as she has followed her husband’s career. This is a boon to Knoxville, Tennessee and anyone living near enough to get to Knoxville for cello lessons.
Alicia possesses a rare sense for the needs of the individual sitting in front of her, both on a personal level and in the development of the person into an accomplished cellist and musician. A clear analytic ability brings her students physical fluidity at the instrument. Alicia is adept at with students of all ages and a wide range of personality types. She is successful with students who began with other teachers and come to her mid-stream in their development (and who may arrive with technical issues that require persistent remedial attention). She also has the knowledge and ability to start students at a tender age as the Suzuki philosophy recommends and take them all the way to artist-level playing. Indeed, one of her greatest accomplishments is her ability to weave the presence of artistry into the training of even the least-experienced beginner.
Alicia Randisi-Hooker is an artist-teacher who has at her command technical ability and understanding, performance experience, a deep and ongoing education, refined musical sensibilities, and personal rapport that make her one of the finest choices anywhere in the world of cello studies. I recommend her unreservedly.”
Lisa Liske, Hollins University, SAA Registered Teacher, Director of Community Cello Works
"I began playing the cello in third grade, and at first I sounded like I was trying to push an angry cat through a wooden box, but this changed quite quickly once I began taking lessons with Alicia. Alicia was the best teacher I could hoped to have had and now I am playing solos with my orchestra and have carried the cello through to college. She is a master of teaching in the Suzuki method and by the end of my years with her I was finished with all ten books of the Suzuki series. Anyone would be lucky to have her as their teacher and I can wholeheartedly say that without her I would have probably stopped playing the cello not too long after I took it up."
Liam Holland, Georgia Tech
Ms. Alicia is a wonderful teacher. She is encouraging, inspiring, and gentle. Listening to her play during your child’s lesson with make you want to take lessons yourself!
Lynda P. mother of a 10 year old Dan and 16 year old Ted, Webb School of Knoxville
“How can I explain the joy of a parent to know her child has such an exceptional teacher? It would be enough that Bonnie would progress evenly through her time with Alicia, but there is something more important happening here. It is the formation of a caring but sensible human being. I believe it is Alicia’s respect and understanding as well as her musicianship and teacher-hood that is helping to build Bonnie’s new sense of herself as competent and worthy.”
Mea S., former Academy of Children’s Music parent of Bonnie, Ft. Washington, PA
"I'm really glad Mikala mentioned you in her bio. We've often remarked when attending a student cello performance how lucky Mikala was to have you set her up with her cello at the beginning. She plays with ease and comfort so that the cello seems an extension of her own body. We both remember the airplane exercise for promoting movement and relaxation when playing. Mikala uses it, as well as "I love my little cello", with her own students today. You were infinitely patient with a little girl who was too shy to talk to her teacher. As Mikala learned to trust and eventually love you, she came out of her shell and blossomed into the relaxed performer she is today. Throughout her training with you Mikala reviewed and improved pieces she had previously learned, thus improving her ear and her sense of striving for ever-elusive perfection in her playing. When she is playing in the Philadelphia area (and even at Aspen), people will ask Mikala if she was a former student of Alicia Randisi - it's the question that comes before the compliment on her grace, power and ease with her instrument. Thank you for your dedication to your students. As the years pass and I meet other teachers and their students I realize how exceptional and rare your teaching talent is."
Sandra S., mother of Mikala Schmitz, Oberlin 2010, Masters Degree Fellowship graduate, Cleveland Institute of Music and celli
Student Achievements:
Local Achievements:
Students are routinely placed prominently in the cello sections of the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra system, and in state festivals such as All-East and All-State, and have been finalists in the Tennessee Cello Workshop Competition.
Second Place Winner, Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra Competition, First Place winner, Scruffy City Concerto Competition, Scholarship, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Chamber Music on the Hill.
Admitted to North Carolina School of the Arts, High School Division, Philadelphia International Summer Music Festival, Sewannee Summer Music Center Scholarship Recipients, Camp Encore-Coda Scholarship recipients, and Friends Music Camp.
Where Are They Now?
Bartholomew LaFollette.
Concert Cellist, Soloist with major European orchestras, including The Philharmonia, (London, England) The Irish Chamber Orchestra, Trondheim PHilharmonic (Norway), and professor of cello, Yehudi Menuhin School.
Mikala Schmitz
Los Angeles based recording artist, “Chef’s Table” and “The Brink”. Bach Collegium, San Diego, Agave Baroque, and The Golden State Pops Orchestra.
Britton Riley.
Orchestral Cellist; The National Symphony Orchestra, former assistant principal of the Calgary Philharmonic.
CelloLeap affiliations enrich your experience.
As both cellist and teacher, I participate in a wide variety of organizations and events that enrich my teaching and strive to create experiences my students benefit from in countless ways. From our local Knoxville Area Suzuki Cooperative to the Tennessee Cello Workshop, to studio recitals and concerts for seniors and the Fantasy of Trees, my studio provides activities in our own community which enhance the student’s broader musical exposure. I also strive to instill a sense of the larger world of music through my performances and involvement in music festivals and workshops around the country, and in fact, the world. Here is a sampling of some of my professional affiliations,.
