Sandra Halleran
Sandra Halleran, cellist, is from Rochester, New York. She is an active freelance musician and cello teacher in the Rochester area. She is currently teaching traditional and Suzuki cello lessons in her private studio and joined the cello faculty of the Eastman Community Music School in July, 2023. Her students range in age from 5 to 82 years old. Ms. Halleran is also on the faculty of Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women, where she teaches cello and bass lessons. Ms. Halleran teaches with the intent to mold well-rounded, knowledgeable, passionate, and musically mature students. As well-prepared and dedicated players, Ms. Halleran’s students enjoy participating in their school orchestras, pit orchestras, local youth orchestras, chamber music, and outreach events.
Ms. Halleran is the founder and Artistic Director of the Rochester Cello Society, a non-profit organization benefiting cellists and lovers of cello music in the Rochester area. The RCS was created to inspire a greater connection between cellists, young and old, students and professionals. This is done in the spirit of bringing cellists together and creating positivity in the community. While the Society has been on hiatus due to the pandemic, programming is expected to resume in the Fall of 2023.
Ms. Halleran has performed in orchestras throughout the US. She held principle cello positions with the New World Symphony, the Wheeling Symphony, and the Spoleto Festival Orchestra. She has also performed with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, the National Ballet of Canada, the Rochester Broadway Theater League, The Rochester Oratorio Society, and the Greater Rochester Women’s Philharmonic.
Ms. Halleran received her Master’s Degree and Orchestral Studies Diploma (2002) from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with Steve Doane and Rosemary Elliot. Ms. Halleran also holds a Bachelor of Music degree (1999) from Rice University, where she studied with Paul Katz. She received her New York State Teaching Certificate through a program at Nazareth College (2006). Ms. Halleran has studied additionally with Richard Weiss and Steven Geber of the Cleveland Orchestra. She has completed Suzuki training with Carey Cheney, Pamela Devenport, and Ann Grabe.
Ms. Halleran is also an active chamber musician. She is the director of the professional freelance ensemble, The Marini String Ensemble, formed in 1999. The ensemble performs at weddings and special events throughout Rochester and the Finger Lakes region.
In her free time, Ms. Halleran enjoys renovating her house, cooking, gardening, and caring for her cat, Felix.