Monterey Cello Congress 2024 Was Awesome!
What People Said:
"Together, our sound was amazing! I really loved the experience from beginning to end." -Karie F.
" Exactly what I needed. Wonderful and talented people. Marcie's coaching is amazing." -Lucas M.
"Harmony, friendship, learning...I love being a part of this musical family." -Katherine E.
"I learned so much. I've had the music ringing inside my head all weekend!" -Karie F
Intermediate level cellists and up:
Chat with me about Monterey
If you want to join us in Monterey but you are not sure if you are a good fit, feel free to book a free call below and we can talk about it. Play something for me. Can't wait!
Monterey 2023
Katherine says:
Katherine says:
Katherine says:
"Advice for scared cello players - just do it! The group is so friendly and supportive. Immerse yourself in cello - it WORKS!"
April says:
Katherine says:
Katherine says:
"It was super fun. Listening to us playing together is amazing and I can't believe I was a part of that. I feel alot more confident as a cellist after this experience."
Peggy says:
Carolyn says:
Carolyn says:
"It was amazing. I loved being a part of the group and it was alot of fun. I felt like a kid at camp and I didn't want to leave."
Carolyn says:
Carolyn says:
Carolyn says:
" If you're thinking about going to Monterey, do It! Marcie is a warm, caring and wonderful teacher with a very unique and versatile skill set to take your playing to the next level in whatever direction your heart desires. And the venue is the perfect location to bring renewed joy into your cello sound surrounded by supportive friends on the same journey."
Monterey 2023
The Cello Guru
Moses Sedler of Dolce Violins
Laurie, Marcie and April
Cracking up.
Laurie, Marcie and April
Moses Sedler of Dolce Violins
Laurie, Marcie and April
Fun at the beach.
Moses Sedler of Dolce Violins
Moses Sedler of Dolce Violins
Moses Sedler of Dolce Violins
Teaching us about cellos and their value.
Becky W.
April M. always has a good story
Moses Sedler of Dolce Violins
Cool as a Cucumber....That's the drink.
April M. always has a good story
April M. always has a good story
April M. always has a good story
Cellists around the fire with margaritas at cello storytime.
Morning Message in the Sand
April M. always has a good story
April M. always has a good story
Monterey Cello Congress 2024
Ready to Rock and Roll this June?
Are you finding yourself smothered by classical perfectionism?
Are you wanting to find some freedom in your playing?
Ready to connect with your cello adventurer and create reinvention?
Want to figure out how to be more expressive in your playing and blend with a lovely Cello Choir?
Want to find the joy , passion and relevance in your cello playing that you once had?
Break out of the limiting classical cello perfectionism and hone your chops at the same time.
Here's your invitation to celebrate the power of the bass clef with other awesome aspiring cellists.
Ditch your solo musical frustrations and come hang with us in Moss Beach, CA, the most gorgeous location in the world.
Join us in this exclusive and intimate setting where we will mix and mingle, combining our rich tenor voices to create a lovely montage of sonorous harmonies beside the ever surfeited sea.
If you want to hone your cello chops and play some lovely music in an exclusive and intimate setting, with master coaching and cello choir daily, with just a short walk to the lovely Pacific Ocean, then this Cello Congress is for you!
When you allow yourself permission to prioritize your cello career, you become a happier, healthier, more fulfilled human and the world becomes a better place.
Bach, Beethoven, and Beatles are amongst the composers for this soiree.
And we will also be exploring a Celtic chord chart to take a walk on the wild side and do some improv. Ca-ra-zee!
Ticket Price: $600
The Monterey Cello Congress: Thursday and Friday, June 20-21, 2024
In the Monterey Cello Congress Package you will get:
- Multiple Cello Choir sessions daily, where we will join together in song to make three and four part cello renditions of lovely compositions: Bach Brandenburg Concerto#3, Beethoven's Seventh Symphony Funeral March, Beatles' Elenor Rigby, Game of Thrones, and more!
-Multiple Celtic Cello sessions, where we will learn how to develop your chord chart reading abilities to create your own unique version of the lovely tune.
-A Soulful Sound Seminar to shape and hone a cellists most valuable asset. We all need a lovely sound. Let's get into it and experiment to make some decisions about how we want to sound.
PERMISSION TO PRIORITIZE GRANTED.
When you allow yourself permission to prioritize your cello career, you become a happier, healthier, more fulfilled human and the world becomes a better place.
Here's what playing in a Cello Choir does, according to my students:
- Makes you want to sing like a bird
- Makes you learn to listen to others and fit your part into the music
- Brings you musical community for a lifetime
- Gives you the confidence to go out and play with others
Here's what the study of improv does, according to my students:
- Helps you play with others on different instruments, spices up a piece of music and it helps you to be creative
- Makes you versatile, makes you stand out as a musician and it broadens your musical sense
- Expands your horizons, stretches your brain and makes your heart sing
- Allows you to join any combo or jazz ensemble to jam
Level:
Your cello level should be late Suzuki Book 2 or higher. If you have questions about your level, book a free consultation call with me and we can figure out if you are a good fit.
Monterey Cello Congress Schedule 2024
Thursday and Friday, June 20 and 21 in Moss Beach, CA
The lovely Pacific ocean is directly across the street
coffee, tea, snacks and a basic lunch included so you won't have to leave the site...
Thursday, June 20, 2024
9:30-10:00am Coffee, Tea and Meet and Greet
10-10:50 Soulful Sound Seminar: study the elements of a beautiful sound that will enhance your melodies and finally bring your sound to life
11-11:50 Celtic Cello Seminar: harmonic analysis, chord chart study and devising your own unique version of a lovely Scottish composition: Tarboltan Lodge
12-1pm Lunch Break: enjoy a light lunch on site and mix and mingle with awesome cello community
1-1:45 Bach Brandenburg Concerto#3 for Cello Choir:
Sectionals: hone and fine tune individual parts and study the techniques and intricacies of baroque polyphony and fitting multiple parts together
2-2:45 Bach Brandenburg Concerto#3 for Cello Choir:
Full Cello Choir: all parts together
3-3:50 Beatles Elenor Rigby; sectionals and full rehearsal
Friday: June 21st, 2024
9:30-10:00am Coffee, Tea and Meet and Greet
10-10:50 Workshop: Finding your Million Dollar Cello (or the best instrument for you.)
With guest speaker Moses Sedler, cellist, entrepreneur, cello expert and CEO of Dolce Violins in San Rafael
11-11:50 Celtic Cello Seminar Day 2: harmonic analysis, chord chart study and more devising your own unique version of a lovely Scottish composition: Sister Jean
12-1:00pm Lunch Break: enjoy a light lunch on site and mix and mingle with awesome cello community
1-1:45 Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony Funeral March Sectionals
2-2:45 Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony Funeral March Full Cello Choir
3-3:45 Game of Thrones
4-5: Monterey Cello Congress Play Out
Run-thru of all pieces, entire Cello Choir
The Monterey Cello Congress will be held in Moss Beach, CA, which is a 97 miles south of Monterey.
It's right on the beach, a few miles south of Half Moon Bay.
In other words, the setting is HEAVEN.
-More info on Moss Beach here: https://www.visithalfmoonbay.org/articles/moss-beach-california-nature-filled-getaway
-Email me with your name, phone number, cello level and any questions here:
-You can rent a cello through Moses Sedler at Dolce Violins in San Rafael and we will get the cello to you in Moss Beach. https://dolceviolins.net/contact-us/
Distance from airports:
San Francisco International: 22 miles
Oakland International Airport : 40 miles
San Jose Airport: 46 miles
Shuttles available from all three airports to Moss Beach
Lodging Suggestions:
Aristocrat Hotel--A Best Western
Half Moon Bay, CA (650) 713-5151. Around $220. 8 miles
Fairfield Inn in Pacifica at 500 Old County Road
855-816-6193. Around. $220----5 miles
More... and their cost is higher $280 to $350
Seal Cove Inn. 1 Mile away
Inn at Mavericks. 3 miles away
Ocean view Inn 1 mile away
Oceano Hotel and Spa. 2.5 miles away
Beach House Hotel 8 miles away
Cypress In on Miramar Beach. 4 miles away
Pacificas Brach Hotel 6 miles away
More...less expensive. around $220
The Anchor Inn in Pacifica. 5 miles away
Harbor View Inn in HMB. 2 miles away
You may get better pricing by checking each one and calling yourself. This is pricing for now and that will change when it gets to the late spring and summer season!!
Most are close to places to eat and drink and good coffee houses. So evening meals should be great for everyone.
Pacifica is about 6 Miles from the Congress site and Half Moon Bay is about 8 Miles. All easy to get to...
No Refunds!
Make sure that you are all in when you sign up. There are no refunds for this event. We are on a tight budget just to get it to happen... so be sure that you can make it before you sign up!
You deserve this!
Cello Reinvention: Find freedom in your cello playing for two entire days in a breathtaking setting.
Meet Marcie
Grammy Nominated
Marcie's CD Butterfly Girl was nominated for a grammy award.
Cirque du Soleil Approved
Marcie played over 600 shows with the Cirque du Soleil "O" show on the Las Vegas Strip.
Dual Masters Degree Earner
Marcie has two master's degrees , one in classical music and one in jazz and improvisation from Manhattan School of Music.
The Cello Guru
Marcie inspires hundreds of adult cellists to become badass cellists through her online persona the Cello Guru.
Cross Training: Streets, Circus, Symphony
Marcie's underlying teaching method implements cross training. This is the study of using classical perfectionist studies+ Celtic and jazz chord chart reading+ the thought work that is inevitably needed to become the best cellist that you can possibly be.
Stellar Symphony Musician
Marcie has performed in many symphony orchestras, including the Tucson Symphony, the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Houston Pops Orchestra, the Grand Rapids Symphony and the Monterey Symphony. She has performed beside many greats such as Ray Charles, Dizzy Gillespie, Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli.
We know how to be serious and how to have fun
Performing in an Austrian Jazz Festival
Performing in an Austrian Jazz Festival
Performing in an Austrian Jazz Festival
Wallfahrtskirche Maria Lankowitz
Schmoozing with Valerie at the Circus
Performing in an Austrian Jazz Festival
Performing in an Austrian Jazz Festival
Backstage at the Cirque du Soleil
Past Participants
"This has been fantastic on so many levels."
What a blast! Many thanks to Marcie and all who participated for a terrific three days! Cheers to the next gathering!
What a blast! Many thanks to Marcie and all who participated for a terrific three days! Cheers to the next gathering!
B. Byfield, Los Angeles, CA
What a blast! Many thanks to Marcie and all who participated for a terrific three days! Cheers to the next gathering!
What a blast! Many thanks to Marcie and all who participated for a terrific three days! Cheers to the next gathering!
What a blast! Many thanks to Marcie and all who participated for a terrific three days! Cheers to the next gathering!
N. Thomson, Bay Area, CA
The congress was such a success for me! I learned so much!
Goofin' at the Congress: The Cello Guru with Barbery and Judy. So fun!
Goofin' at the Congress: The Cello Guru with Barbery and Judy. So fun!
J. Glicksman, Bay Area, CA
Goofin' at the Congress: The Cello Guru with Barbery and Judy. So fun!
Goofin' at the Congress: The Cello Guru with Barbery and Judy. So fun!
Goofin' at the Congress: The Cello Guru with Barbery and Judy. So fun!
Cello Guru Students Reflect:
"Thanks to the Cello Guru I am now a cello addict!"
"My whole thought process has changed with the Cello Guru."
"My whole thought process has changed with the Cello Guru."
-Vanessa E.,
Queensland, AU
"My whole thought process has changed with the Cello Guru."
"My whole thought process has changed with the Cello Guru."
"My whole thought process has changed with the Cello Guru."
-Elizabeth M.,
Rio de Janeiro, BR
"The Cello Guru is an amazing teacher."
"My whole thought process has changed with the Cello Guru."
"The Cello Guru is an amazing teacher."
David M.,
Yarmouth, ME
Read the Article from psychology today
Written by our awesome cellist Francine Toder!
Francine was all in at the Monterey Cello Congress, 2021. Read the article here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/enhance-your-vintage-years/202107/the-sounds-resilience?fbclid=IwAR29Be3AbjuSKLXx5X7-MKwrLFTT6WkN28OUV6O3EonOHwLNEdF6UeYlFLY
Monterey Cello Congress in Moss Beach, June-2024
