Allison Rich is a performer and music educator working in both Canada and the United States. Her specific area of expertise is cello technique pedagogy, and she works to make exercises more accessible for interested cellists. Allison’s Doctoral thesis included the creation of the Cello Exercise Index – to learn more about this project, click here. She is a passionate teacher and works with students ranging from beginners through collegiate undergraduate and graduate students.

Allison is an experienced orchestral musician, having performed with the Toronto Symphony, the Detroit Opera, the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, and the Canadian Opera Company, among others. She is currently a member of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, and a former member of the Jackson Symphony.

Allison has a special interest in playing and promoting contemporary music. In addition to independent chamber music projects, recent collaborations include performances with Albuquerque’s Chatter ensemble, Continuum Contemporary Music, and Toronto’s Esprit Orchestra. As often as possible, Allison pursues projects with colleagues and friends within her musical communities that support new voices and new sounds in classical music. 

Allison Rich completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Toronto, where she studied Cello Performance with Joseph Johnson. Prior to moving to Canada, she earned her MM at the University of Michigan and her BM at the Eastman School of Music, studying with Professors Richard Aaron and Steven Doane.