Meet Allyson Schuler
This week we are chatting with Allyson Schuler, a Cincinnati native!
Allyson grew up in Fairfield and returned to Cincinnati after graduate school. She studied horn performance at the Eastman School of Music and economics at the University of Rochester, earning a BM in Applied Music and a BA in economics, respectively. During both her undergrad and graduate studies, she worked with the Concert and Events Offices at her schools. She started as an usher and was promoted to a head usher, and then worked as a Crew and House Manager in graduate school. The best part was being able to hear amazing concerts, recitals, and guest speakers.
After she completed her undergraduate degree, she lived in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina for a year playing fourth horn with the Sarajevo Philharmonia. She had a wonderful time playing classical and pops concerts as well as performing for operas and ballets. She traveled with the orchestra to other cities in Bosnia and on a tour to Northern Italy.
Allyson returned to the US for her Masters of Music at the University of Delaware. While there, she toured with the UD Wind Ensemble to Taiwan in 2015 and to the CBDNA 2016 Convention in New London, Connecticut, and toured Washington D.C. with the UD Symphony Orchestra.
When she returned to Cincinnati she started her own horn studio and have been building it since then. Like tutoring, she gets to work individually with students and can focus on their strengths, weaknesses, and help them improve and grow as musicians. She had the opportunity to perform with orchestras like the Lexington Philharmonic and the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra.
How long have you been tutoring with Connections?
I started tutoring with Connections in the Fall of 2017. I help most of my students with math classes like Algebra I, II, and Geometry, and I have a few beginner French students. The “ah-ha” moments are great! So many of my students know more than they think they do, they may just need something explained differently or with an extra step. I love when students reflect on a type of problem that originally seemed very complicated and challenging, but a few weeks later they can work through it like it’s as easy as adding. Like horn, practice really helps math skills.
What’s the best book you’ve read in the last year?
The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey. He discusses getting out of your own way, removing judgement from the learning process to become a better tennis play. It applies very well to horn playing and teaching, and learning new things in general.
How would you spend a free Saturday afternoon?
Free Saturday afternoons are usually spent with my family. I have a nephew who will be 1 this summer. He can almost walk and just learned how to clap. I love being an aunty and watching him learn new things and try new foods. Everything is so exciting for him.
You just won an all expenses paid vacation! Where are you going?
I’m going back to Europe! My favorite city in all of my travels is Berlin. I would love to explore more of Germany, maybe practice the little bit of German I have learned since my first trip. I wasn’t able to see the Berlin Philharmonic while I was there, so I would love to hear them and other outstanding orchestras.
Thank you, Ally, for being such an important part of the Connections Team!
Written by Joy Becker, Mentoring Coordinator.
