Private Cello Lessons & Teachers in Hermosa Beach, CA

Hello all! My name is Dr. Britta Thomas, and I’m a cellist and educator based in Los Angeles, praised for my creativity and expressive strength on the cello. I have a deep love of new music and frequently collaborate with contemporary composers, premiering several works written for me and helping to expand the cello repertoire. As a passionate educator with over ten years of experience, I teach students of all levels and styles—from Suzuki to improvisation. My students have earned recognition in competitions and have even performed at Carnegie Hall. I’ve served as a cello and low strings coach for youth orchestras in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, led masterclasses, and adjudicated competitions. I’m originally from Montana and earned my Bachelor of Music from the University of Montana, followed by my Master of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where I studied with Professors Fern Glass Boyd and Jennifer Kloetzel. I’ve received numerous awards and fellowships and performed with the Graduate Fellowship Trio. Beyond music, I also hold a Bachelor of Arts in German and am devoted to my pets, Tilda and Moo Moo.

"I love Britta as my cello teacher because she’s cool and funny and always excited to teach. She helped me succeed in learning cello. You’ll love having Britta as a teacher because she’s cool, she’s kind, and brings the best prizes.

Mauricio Lopez-Chollett is an experienced cellist and educator whose career spans orchestral performance, chamber music, and teaching in both Latin America and the United States. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music with academic honors from the Cleveland Institute of Music (1997) and a Master’s Degree in Cello Performance from the University of Michigan (1999). Early in his career he attended the Aspen Music Festival and School and performed with the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado. He also attended the Festival Internacional de Santander in Spain and a chamber music festival in Angoulême, France. From 1999 to 2023 he served as Cello Professor and conductor of the Mozart and Bach orchestras at the Emil Friedman School in Caracas, Venezuela. During this period he was also principal cellist of Virtuosi de Caracas and a member of the Humboldt String Quartet. He was also the cellist of the Academic Piano Trio “Emil Friedman,” performing extensively in chamber music recitals throughout Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Spain, and England. Chamber music collaborations with renowned artists include Errolyn Wallen, Alexandre Tharaud, Quatuor Stanislas, and Ensamble Gurrufío, among others. Since relocating to Los Angeles, Lopez has continued an active career as both performer and teacher, working with several music programs while maintaining a private studio. His students have won concerto competitions with regional orchestras and prizes in solo string competitions. He remains active in chamber music while continuing to perform in orchestral and recording projects, including participation in the soundtrack for the documentary A Life in Portraits, about artist Don Bachardy, and a performance of Puccini’s Turandot at the Walt Disney Concert Hall

"Thank you for your teaching, collaboration, and dedication. It has been an incredible journey working together, and I truly value everything I have accomplished