"I played the cello as a teenager and spent three years at Interlochen Boarding School for fine arts. Years later, after having a career and family, I bought a cello in 2007 to resume where I left off as a youngster. It was a good thought but my skills had disintegrated... Shelby arrived in our community and in early winter of 2015, he became the director of a newly established string ensemble. He was exactly what we needed - an icon of professionalism; measured in conversation, patient, and comfortable with our diversities, skill levels, and abilities. I immediately signed up to have him as my cello teacher and we started right away. I am still working with him weekly. He has several teaching techniques that were new and unique to me; posturing and movement, bow arm, fingering, slow and repetitive segments to understand how to correct errors. He is eager to teach his students the theoreticals of melody and harmony, which for me makes a light bulb go off. His lessons are always associated with interesting dialogue; greatest music teacher ever! Watching him in performance is the best - he is so still yet his arms move to make flawless production.