Education
BA Cleveland Institute of Music
MM University of Iowa
PhD Northwestern University
About
Dr. Melissa Kraut is recognized as one of the leading pedagogues of her generation. Having developed and trained some of the outstanding young musicians of today, Dr. Kraut has demonstrated a unique ability to teach all ages and stages of dedicated students, helping them reach their highest potential both at and away from the cello. Dr. Kraut comes most recently from the Cleveland Institute of Music where she taught for 19 years and served as co-chair of the cello program.
With degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, the University of Iowa and Northwestern University, Dr. Kraut has had the opportunity to study with the great pedagogues Alan Harris and Hans-Jorgen Jensen as well as summer study/master classes with cellists such as Aldo Parisot, Frank Miller, Yo-Yo Ma, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi and David Soyer. As a student, she participated in the Aspen Music Festival, Banff Center for the Arts, and the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival in Europe.
Dr. Kraut has led a diverse career on stage, with solo and chamber performances throughout the United States, Europe, China, and Cuba. She has appeared most recently at festivals such as El Paso Pro Musica, Northwest Bach Festival, Sitka Music Festival, Eureka Chamber Music and as a performer at many summer festivals.
In the summer of 2014, Dr. Kraut and Zuill Bailey launched the Sitka International Cello Seminar in Sitka, AK bringing 10 outstanding cellists to Alaska each summer to study with them. Dr. Kraut remained the Education Director there until she left to join the leadership team of Ascent Music in Hudson, OH. Other former festival positions include Heifetz International Music Festival, Meadowmount School for Music, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Madeline Island Chamber Music, Aria International Music Academy, Lev Aronson Cello Festival, and Dr. Kraut’s self-designed/directed summer program, The Complete Cellist.
Dr. Kraut’s students have achieved great success, with top prizes in International, National and Regional competitions. Students of Dr. Kraut have won the Gold Medal and Audience Award at the Gaspar Cassado Competition in Hachioji, Japan, Gold Medal at the Carlos Prieto Competition, Semi-Finalists at the Sphinx Competition, Grand Prize in the Music Teachers National Association Competition, First Prize in the American String Teacher’s Association, Grand Prize in the Walgreen’s Competition, Grand Prize in the Fischoff Competition, as well as awards at the Banff Chamber Music Competition, Melbourne Chamber Music Competition, Hudson Valley Competition, Klein Competition and more.
Dr. Kraut’s former students make up members of orchestras such as Indianapolis Symphony, Principal of South Carolina Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, US Army Strings, Knoxville Symphony as well as orchestras in Europe and China. Other former students hold positions in notable quartets, artistic leadership positions, and as teachers at all levels.