MARY BRANDAL, CELLO
Mary Brandal is a cellist from Columbus, Ohio, who received her Master of Music degree at the Ohio State University in May, 2018. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Performance from Ohio University and is a registered Suzuki Method cello teacher. Mary is currently working towards a PhD in education specializing in social emotional learning from North Central University. Mary earned her State of Ohio Music Educator's teaching license in January, 2019. She is has been employed as a public school music teacher since September, 2019, where she teaches orchestra, band, choir, and general music. She also runs a small private music studio out of her home where she teaches private lessons.
Mary switched to cello from violin at the age of ten, fell in love with it, and has been playing ever since. As a young cellist in high school, she participated in the Chamber Music Connection in Columbus, Ohio, as well as the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Youth Philharmonic Columbus Orchestra, and the OMEA Regional and District Orchestras. Every year throughout middle and high school, Mary entered the OMEA solo competition and Young Soloist competitions. She attended Whetstone High School and was a featured soloist at her high school graduation, performing solo Bach in the Ohio Theatre.
More recently, Mary has played with the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra, the Central Ohio Symphony, the Lima Symphony Orchestra, and has been a featured guest artist with the Calliope Women's Choir. She regularly plays at weddings and events in central Ohio and was a member of the Indianola Quartet, formed at OSU in 2017.
As a trained Suzuki instructor, Mary teaches students of all ages. She also teaches traditional method students and enjoys working with both young students and adults. She taught for five years as a cello teacher for the Athens Community Music School. Mary currently resides in Columbus, Ohio and teaches private lessons at her home studio after teaching public school. She plays on a newer 2010 cello, named "Valentino", made specifically for her by luthier Richard Compartino in Quebec, Canada.
