About
Founded in 2018 by TetraCello in partnership with Metro State University of Denver, the Colorado Cello Summit is an opportunity for Colorado cellists to connect and celebrate the cello. All are welcome to attend and participate in talks, chamber music, visiting with luthiers, masterclasses and a large cello ensemble reading. Past presenters and facilitators have included: Dr. Charles Lee, Doug Moore, Rich Slavich, Gil Selinger, Margaret Romney, David Rutherford, Christopher Dungey, and Deborah Miles.
2019 Presenters
Margaret Romney's early professional life centered around all things related to the cello: performing, teaching, arranging music, and directing events. Awards included scholarships to attend Idyllwild Arts Academy, University of Arizona School of Music with Peter Rejto, and Westminster College’s Master of Strategic Communication Program as well. For over 20 years she has taught cello to children ages 3—18, guided by principles of Suzuki philosophy she learned from Suzuki Teacher Training in books 1-10. She has loved teaching many summers at Suzuki Institutes across the Mountain West for over 12 years. A joy in her life has been gathering cellists and playing everything from Bach to Beatles with the Salty City Cello Band, founded in 2006. Margaret has been nicknamed “The Benevolent Pusher” for her uncanny ability to be supportive, directive, and entertaining as she leads unforgettable communication workshops, writes, or interviews fascinating people. She has coached over 100 TEDx event speakers and she is the producer and host of the SAA Podcast, “Building Noble Hearts: Inside a Teaching Community.” Her free time is filled with hiking, biking the paths of Boulder, CO, and reveling in her three grown daughters’ marvelous lives.
Dr. Charles Lee received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder, his Masters in Music from Temple University, and his Bachelor of Arts in Composition from the Eastman School of Music. His teachers include Judith Glyde, Jeffrey Solow and David Ying. He is currently the principal cellist of the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, and also performs with Colorado Ballet and Opera Colorado orchestras. He teaches at Metro State University of Denver and Regis University.
Douglas Moore was Professor of Music at Williams College from 1970 to 2007, and cellist with the Williams Chamber Players and the Williams Trio. His Bachelor of Music degree in cello is from Indiana University, where he studied with Fritz Magg, and his Masters and DMA degrees are from The Catholic University of America in Washington DC.
He has appeared with orchestras and in recital throughout the United States and Canada. He has also conducted cello orchestras at cello congresses, cello camps and universities, and given frequent master classes.
He was an artist/faculty member at the Manchester (VT) Music Festival from 1998 to 2008. In 1976 Moore played the world premiere performance of the Cello Sonata by Arthur Foote, and since 1981 has played the Foote Cello Concerto with numerous orchestras.
He has recorded music by Foote, Farwell, Cadman, Arensky, Rachmaninov, and Kechley on the Musical Heritage Society, Grand Prix and Liscio record labels. He plays a 1997 cello made by Lawrence Wilke of Clinton, CT.
Christopher Dungey is a violin maker specializing in the new making of cellos. He graduated from The Newark School of Violin Making in England with 'Distinction' in 1982. After finishing school at Newark, he was employed in Los Angeles with Hans Weisshaar and Thomas Metzler learning the fine art of restoration. Since 1986, Christopher has been a successful sole proprietor of his cello making business. He is a current member of the AFVBM Inc. and has won numerous VSA cello making awards.
Christopher’s commitment to music professionally was founded on his education at the University of Oregon with a degree in double bass performance. Christopher’s teacher was Robert Hladky who taught both the cello and bass students. It was those years of cello exposure with his teacher that fundamentally underscored Christopher’s unique understanding of the cello sound to his cello making today. Moreover, Christopher has first-hand experience with raw materials: he has been cutting and collecting cello wood since his student days in England. Acquisition of raw materials has ascribed knowledge of wood that lends him skill in how to utilize the wood for each new cello to its fullest potential.
After passing the milestone 100th cello in 2012, he tirelessly researches the answers to his curiosities about everything cello. Christopher realized many years ago that while he was having great success with his cellos, he would never be complacent. Christopher has an insatiable need to understand why and how the workmanship can deliver the best acoustical sound with detailed craftsmanship. Christopher has traveled to many parts of the world to learn first-hand from leaders in the field of violinmaking, to priceless antique instruments, and even to the source of his varnish resin in New Zealand. Christopher’s clientele and collaborations include cellists that now reach around the world, in every performing level from student to superstar. His knowledge continues to expand. Christopher is involved with product development. He finds himself helping others with their products or even creating his own accessories to enhance playability and sound quality for the cellos he makes. When his work is finished, Christopher’s greatest satisfaction is what he can do to help maximize each individual cello's voice for the cellist.
Since 2003 Chris has been attending the VSA Oberlin Acoustics workshop to stay current with all the technological understanding of the field today. In 2006, Christopher was asked to coordinate logistics for this one-week workshop intensive during the summer. This involves coordinating with Oberlin College administrator’s before, during and after the weeklong workshop. Since his coordination of the logistics, the workshop participants appreciate greater organization. Christopher’s attention to planning and details, enables the participants to focus on the workshop content.
Christopher and his wife relocated to Grand Junction, Colorado in 2012 where he builds cellos in his 'dream shop' that was completed in July 2013. Christopher’s shop has a view looking towards the Colorado National Monument. Chris plays his bass regularly in local venues. He is a member of the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra and a local jazz group. In his spare time, Christopher rides his road bicycle in the Colorado countryside.
Deborah Miles received a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Math and Geology from Portland State University and a Masters of Engineering (ME) in Geophysics from Colorado School of Mines. She is a Registered Professional Engineer (PE) in Colorado and a Registered Geologist (PG) in Wyoming. For over 30 years she interpreted seismic data (mostly compressional waves - acoustic waves if they are in air) as it pertains to exploring for hydrocarbons. She has authored and presented 14 papers on different aspects of interpretation and understanding compressional waves to the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) International meetings, European Association of Exploration Geophysicists (EAEG) meetings, Australian Association of Exploration Geophysicists (ASEG) meetings, SEG Summer Research Workshop and to SEG chapter meetings. Some of these papers involved gleaning and understanding shear waves from the compression wave signatures. Many of these papers were invited and some were awarded best paper. In addition, she taught a three-day course on seismic interpretation using compression waves to understand the shear properties of the section, which was requested by the SEG. She has also worked as a Geotechnical Engineer in the housing industry.
Debrah is married with one daughter. The whole family volunteers with the Loveland Ski Patrol. She is the CPR Advisor, and a Mountain Travel and Rescue Instructor for the ski patrol. She is a BLS (CPR for First Responders) Instructor and BLS Instructor Trainer for the Red Cross. She is an avid hiker in the summer, skier in the winter.