During this season of COVID-19, I am offering online lessons through Microsoft Teams, Zoom, FaceTime, Google Duo, and Skype. Please contact me to set up a free trial lesson! Join in on the magic of learning and the lifelong ability to give the gift of music to others!
CELLIST | TEACHER
Cleveland Institute of Music, MM in Suzuki Pedagogy and Cello Performance 2020
Robert McDuffie Center for Strings, BM 2018
Vanderbilt University, Myra Jackson Blair Pre-college 2014
Cellist MaryGrace Bender pursues a multi-faceted career in performance, recording, and music education. As a Suzuki teacher, Bender seeks to reach every child through music and prides herself in her students. As an avid collaborative and chamber musician, Bender recently performed with the McDuffie Center for Strings in Carnegie Hall, as Young Artist for The Rome Chamber Music Festival in Italy, and recorded orchestrally under Philip Glass’s Orange Mountain Music label which The Wall Street Journal reviewed as, “impeccably polished.” Bender’s extensive studies include a master's degree from The Cleveland Institute of Music in Cello Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy, and an undergraduate degree from The Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University. She has spent summers at The National Repertory Orchestra, Meadowmount School of Music, The Rome Chamber Music Festival, Brevard Music Festival, Chautauqua Summer Institute, and the Aspen Music Festival and School as a New Horizon's fellow. Past influential teachers include Dr. Melissa Kraut, Hans Jørgen Jensen, Julie Albers, and Dr. Felix Wang. A recipient of the James T. McAfee, Jr. Endowed Vision and Leadership Scholarship, Bender passionately promotes the arts at a grassroots level by teaching and performing in schools, retirement homes, homeless shelters, and concert halls alongside her professional performances and recording projects. Bender enjoys teaching English to international students through her own company, Talk2Crew, spending an evening playing chamber music with friends, and anything outdoors.
SERVICES
TEACHING
Interested in enriching your life with music? Learn to play the cello! Contact me for lessons, studio classes, group classes, and everything Suzuki books 1-10 and above!
https://suzukiassociation.org/people/marygrace-bender/
PROJECTS
NASHVILLE CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY
MaryGrace Bender, founder
The Nashville Chamber Music Society, comprised of world-class chamber musicians in the area, perform classical music in different types of ensembles. Musicians of NCMS promote artistic excellence in creative programming, music education, and audience engagement. Please contact us for more information!
THE JOY PROJECT
MaryGrace Bender, founder
MaryGrace founded THE JOY PROJECT to give the gift of the arts to those who might not regularly attend a concert hall. THE JOY PROJECT audiences range from homeless shelters, to nursing homes, to prisons, with the core intent of bringing joy to those in need. To learn more about TJP, contact MaryGrace!
CONTACT
615-339-3032