Colleen McGary-Smith

(She/her)

Cellist, Colleen McGary-Smith appears throughout New England on historical and modern cellos as well as viola da gamba. Colleen is a tenured member of the Handel and Haydn Society, with whom she has recorded on the Coro Label. She also performs with Emmanuel Music, Tutti Bassi and various choral ensembles.

Past season highlights include performances with Boston Baroque, Vista Philharmonic, Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, Boston Lyric Opera, Columbus Symphony, Erie Philharmonic, and the Washington Bach Consort. Colleen has also performed on viola gamba with NYC renaissance ensemble Sonnambula.

Colleen is a dedicated cello teacher and enthusiastic chamber music instructor. In addition to teaching at Powers Music School, she also teaches cello and chamber music at Concord Academy. In the summers, you can find Colleen teaching at MOTH (Music on The Hill at Powers) and Point Counterpoint in Vermont. Previous positions include teaching appointments at the Cleveland Institute of Music Preparatory Department, New England Conservatory Preparatory Department, Community Music School of Boston, Indian Hill Music and the Acton Public Schools. Colleen believes that music is for everyone and accepts students of all levels – ages 4 to 103!

Born into a musical family, Colleen began her cello studies at the age of 5 in St. Catherines, Ontario Canada. She attended classes at the Eastman School of Music Preparatory Department and went on to receive her Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and a Master of Music degree from Boston University. Colleen’s primary instructors were Alan Harris and Andres Diaz. Other influential instructors include Richard Aaron, Jane Hershey, Phoebe Carrai, Timothy Eddy, John Hsu and Suzanne Wijsman.

Colleen has Suzuki Certification in Books 1 and 2 with Nancy Hair and Tanya Carey.