Cello
Maclean Pachkowski
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Cellist Maclean Pachkowski started playing the cello at the young age of 3, under the teaching of John Kadz at the Mount Royal Conservatory in Calgary Alberta Canada. Entering the Academy program for gifted young musicians, Mr. Pachkowski’s career as a cellist started with local recitals and performances in festivals. He also has passed the Grade 8 piano exam of RCM. Recently he has been awarded the top prize in the Canadian Music Competition for strings, performed as a soloist at numerous events including: The Feast of Sound and Song and Kiwanis stars of the festival. Mr. Pachkowski has been a provincial winner at the Alberta music festival and has been a guest CD recording artist with Kings Choir as well as playing on the soundtrack for the award winning documentary film “The Drop box.”
Venturing out into the Musical world as principal cellist of the Calgary Youth Orchestra, he has toured Germany, Austria, and Spain. Studying abroad, Maclean graduated from the EAMA music academy in Paris, where he studied alongside faculty from Julliard school of music and the Paris Conservatory. He currently studies at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under the instruction of Jennifer Culp. Praised for his sound and colorful interpretations, Mr. Pachkowski has attracted many with his playing. In his time off Maclean enjoys mountaineering with his dog, fly-fishing, and playing Hockey. |
Cherry Shiqi Li
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Cellist Shiqi Li is from Shanghai, China and started her music practices through piano at age five and began studying cello at age seven. She graduated from the Music Middle School affiliated with the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. There she studied under the instruction of distinguished professors Meijuan Liu and Xinhua Ma. Shiqi received a B.M degree under full scholarship at Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University. There she was a member for the studios of renowned cellists Julie Albers and Hans Jorgen Jensen. She recently earned her masters from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music here in the bay area. There she studied under the great chamber musician and cellist professor, Jennifer Culp.
Ms. Li has taught locally at Lincoln High School and Music Mission San Francisco since 2016. Her goal is not only to teach music, but to teach how to enjoy playing an instrument. She aims to encourage students to build confidence in their abilities so they may reach their utmost potential. In addition to her academic achievements and teaching experience, Ms. Li has been performing for high profile events from an early age. She has been prominently featured on the Zhejiang Television Channel in China and has collaborated with acclaimed Chinese pop stars in performance. These experiences spurred her interest in arranging Chinese pop songs for the cello. Her efforts have been yielded her with over 200,000 followers and counting on the Chinese social media site “Meipai.” |
Double Bass
Lyle Sheffler
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International guitar soloist Lyle Sheffler began playing classical guitar at the age of seven and made his first public appearance at the age of eight. Acclaimed for his artistry, warm tone, and captivating programs, he has played at such esteemed venues as Carnegie Hall, Freight & Salvage Stadium, the Tilles Center, and the Hanoi Opera House, as well as numerous other concert halls around the globe. In addition to solo recitals, Lyle has performed as a concerto soloist with orchestras with Joaquin Rodrigo’s “Fantasia para un Gentilhombre” and Antonio Vivaldi’s Guitar Concerto in D Major.
Lyle earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the prestigious Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, where he studied under the tutelage of acclaimed guitar pedagogue Ray Chester. Lyle received his Masters of Music degree in classical guitar from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under the instruction of Guitar Foundation of America competition winner and Naxos recording artist Marc Teicholz and department chair David Tanenbaum. As a performer, Lyle has become an integral part of the San Francisco music community, both as a soloist and as member of the Duo Boheme with flutist Courtney Wise. He also maintains a thriving teaching studio and is now accepting students in the San Francisco Bay Area. Besides classical guitar, Lyle is proficient on double bass, mandolin, bouzouki, banjo, and lute. He looks forward to a future of sharing his love for the guitar with his audiences and students, alike. |