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Meet the Faculty

Why I came to Simon's Rock: Working with students who are intelligent, motivated, seriously interested, and do not mind working hard is an educator's dream. At Simon's Rock teaching is always interesting, an exploration together with the students. The music lessons and orchestra provide a much needed counterpart to the intensive academic program.

Pullquote: ❝The music lessons and orchestra provide a much needed counterpart to the intensive academic program.❞

My teaching style: In the chamber orchestra my main goal is to guide the musicians to a musical and cooperatively felt interpretation of the repertoire. Working with students of disparate abilities I work toward integration of sound and challenging each student at his or her own level. This may include providing solos for the very advanced musicians. Connecting the music to the imagination and emotions frees the expression, and I strive to inspire musical growth in this way. I work more or less as a traditional conductor, leading the rehearsals in a relaxed but very focused way.

Teaching private cello lessons at Simon's Rock, I adapt my teaching style to the needs and expectations of the student, and see the lessons as a collaboration. I am patient and understanding, but I do like to emphasize progress, and expect even the student who is taking lessons mainly for pleasure to prepare well for the lessons. The pre-professional student may expect me to be demanding and exacting. I believe that good technique is an essential tool for good music making, and empowers the musician, so fine tuning the technique is important. Here too I strive to connect the music to the student's imagination and emotions to enrich the musical expression. I can offer insights into historical performance practice to those students who are interested, as well as full instruction in baroque cello. My students may expect to work on a combination of scales, etudes and music. As is common at Simon's Rock, there is an expectation of, and respect for, students' autonomy and input.

Anne Legêne

Chamber Orchestra, Cello
Division: Arts
Appointment: 1991

69 Welcome Street, Great Barrington
p: 413-528-5311
alegene@simons-rock.edu

Education:

Royal Conservatory, The Hague, Netherlands. Major in cello with Jean Decroos, principal of the Concertgebouw Orchestra. 1975-1981
International Baroque Institute at Longy. Master classes in baroque cello with Phoebe Carrai. 2002
Amherst Early Music Festival- Baroque Institute. Master classes with Phoebe Carrai. 2003
Longy School of Music, Cambridge, MA. Graduate Performer's Diploma in Early Music. Major in Viola da Gamba with Jane Hershey, minor in baroque cello with Phoebe Carrai. 2008-2010
Wieland Kuijken Residency. Ensembles and master classes

Professional History:

Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School, Great Barrington, MA: cello and middle school orchestra. 1988-2001
Pittsfield Community Music School, Pittsfield, MA: cello. 1988-1993
Bard College at Simon's Rock: Chamber Orchestra and cello. 1991-present
World Fellowship Center Early Music Week, Conway, NH: faculty. 2001-present
Hawthorne Valley School, Ghent, NY:

High School orchestra, private cello lessons: 1996 - 2008.
Grades 4 - 8 orchestras, third grade beginning strings, and coordinator of after school music program, 2001-2008

Member: Foundling, baroque orchestra, Providence, RI. Baroque cello. 2003-2006
Member: Long and Away, a consort of viols. Boston, MA. 2010-present. Bass and treble viola da gamba.

Areas of Interest:

My expertise is in music. I grew up in the third generation of a family of musicians and music educators, and began cello lessons at age 10. Following my professional education in cello, I studied macrobiotics and, while raising 5 children, taught cello and orchestra, as well as macrobiotic cooking classes. My long standing interest in early music blossomed when my children grew up and I took to playing the viola da gamba, resulting in a GPD in early music. My interest in education includes expertise in teaching cello and orchestra to younger children, especially in the Waldorf school. Several of my private students have gone on to become professional cellists. I now teach less and focus primarily on playing and organizing concerts. I am a member of the board of the Viola da Gamba Society of New England. I enjoy doing crafts, writing and reading.

Research Interests/Professional Service:

Co-founder and co-director of Summer Sinfonia, a two week summer day camp for young string players, age 8-15. 2005-06
Co-organizer of the Wieland Kuijken Residency, a week long program by the Viola da Gamba Society of New England for emerging professional viol players with viola da gamba master Wieland Kuijken. 2011

Awards/Grants:

Viola da Gamba Society of America toward attending the Wieland Kuijken Residency. 2011