What I learned from playing the cello

Playing the cello taught Gretchen Yanover how to deal with anxiety. She believes that years of leaning the instrument against her heart created an opening to give big emotions a path out. Now, she hopes her music brings that sense of opening to others. Gretchen’s first piece is the evocative solo Heart and Sky. Then dancer Noelle Price helps weave a lyrical story in Willow Waltzes On.

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Gretchen began playing cello in Seattle Public Schools and later earned a BA in Music Performance and a teaching certificate at the University of Washington. She earned a position in NW Sinfonietta Orchestra on the same day she taught her first string orchestra class. Embracing an interwoven path of teaching and performing, Gretchen enthusiastically guided students on stringed instruments in public and private school classrooms.

In addition to acoustic work, she performs solo with her electric cello. Gretchen’s music has been featured in films, dance performances, and podcasts. It’s also often used in meditative and healing settings. She continues to play classical music as a member of Northwest Sinfonietta, the region’s premier chamber orchestra. Gretchen also does studio recording work with her acoustic cello. She has released three solo CDs to date.

Gretchen is joined on stage by dancer Noelle Price. Noelle has performed with Karin Stevens Dance Company and in the 2018 premiere of Beautiful Carcass. She self-produced an evening-length work titled “An Ode to Marlin” and wrote and performed her first one-woman play Death and Other Rude things. Her work Remember Me Young received a Seattle Dance Crush Award for its commitment to advocacy.

Locally grown cellist Gretchen Yanover began playing cello in Seattle Public Schools. She earned a BA in Music Performance and her Washington Teaching Certificate from UW. Gretchen won a position in NW Sinfonietta Orchestra on the same day she taught her first string orchestra classes. Embracing an interwoven path of teaching and performing, Ms Yanover enthusiastically guided students on string instruments in public and private school classrooms
Gretchen performs solo with her electric cello, in addition to her acoustic work. Her music has been featured in contexts ranging from film to dance to podcast soundtracks. Her music is also enjoyed in meditative and healing settings. She continues to play classical music as a member of Northwest Sinfonietta, the region’s premier chamber orchestra. Gretchen also does studio recording work with her acoustic cello, in addition to her own continued solo composing and performing. She has released three solo CDs to date. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx