About Valdine Mishkin

Canadian Cellist Valdine Ritchie Mishkin performs with Third Angle New Music, FearNOMusic, March Modern, 45th Parallel, cross-over group Portland Cello Project, is half of Duo Apaixionado with Peruvian guitarist Alfredo Muro, and moonlights as an extra cellist with the Oregon Symphony. A champion of contemporary music, she has premiered numerous works including composers John Luther Adams, Kenji Bunch, Nancy Ives, and Karim Al-Zand, can be heard on Third Angle Records and Albany Records, and is a frequent guest on All-Classical FM Portland. Beginning studies at age 3 and making her solo debut at age 10 with the Winnipeg Symphony, she has since performed concerti with the Sunnyside Symphony, Chehalem Symphony, and the Mercury Ensemble.

On faculty at Willamette University and with a bustling private studio, her students are frequent finalists in local and national competitions and hold leadership positions in area youth orchestras. She serves as an adjudicator, coach, clinician, conference presenter, author, and on the board of OR-ASTA. She holds Doctoral and Master degrees from Rice University under Lynn Harrell and Norman Fischer, and a Bachelor
degree from McGill University under Antonio Lysy.

For more about Valdine’s Performance website, visit vandineritchiemishkin.com

Valdine’s approach

Valdine’s pedagogical approach relies equally on three elements for a well-rounded music education:

1. private instruction with daily practice of each week’s lesson, with each student committing to a minimum practice time-requirement; 
2. general musical education through ensemble playing, ear-training, music theory & history, with each student required to participate in a group class, ensemble, or other music instrument/course outside of their private lesson.  
3. gaining experience and confidence by regularly performing in a close-knit peer group, with each student performing in monthly studio class and bi-annual recitals as well as optional outreach performances, workshops, exams and competitions. 

Suzuki Method used for young beginners (aged 2.5-6), mixed Suzuki and traditional methods for older students, college prep/”traditional” style used for advanced students.  

Tuition Amounts and Payment Dates:  

Fall, Winter & Spring terms include weekly lessons, monthly performance studio classes and/or recitals, graduation recitals, outreach performances, competitions, and studio-wide events such as practice challenges and parent nights. All private students must participate in a weekly ensemble, such as Suzuki-style group class/cello ensemble, orchestra, or chamber ensemble. Students may choose to participate in regional and national organizations’ activities through Valdine’s memberships and affiliations (Music Teachers National Association, Suzuki Association of the Americas, and American String Teachers Association) and complete practical and/or theory exams through the Royal Conservatory of Toronto, the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, OR-ASTA-cap exams, or OMTA Syllabus. 

Karim Al-Zand: Lamentations on the Disasters of War

℗ 2009 Albany – Ensemble: Enso String Quartet Composer: Karim Al-Zand Artist: Katherine Lewis Artist: Valdine Ritchie Mishkin  Runtime: 10:46

Cello Tuesdays with Valdine Mishkin! (A Side dish for your tacos!)

Portland Cello Project – Streamed live on Jun 16, 2020 featuring Valdine Mishkin performing music for solo cello written and arranged by people who play instruments with a C string!

MYS Virtual Hangout: Valdine Mishkin
Streamed live on Jun 25, 2020

Elgar Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, op. 85 in e minor | Valdine Mishkin, Cello
Sunnyside Symphony Orchestra Concert I –  Oct. 20th , 2019