Mary Alice Swope, Cello Teacher, began her music studies at age five in the Bradenton, Florida piano studio of Katharine Thompson, who took her to her first orchestra concerts. Mrs. Swope began studying the cello in elementary school and, as a high school student, joined the cello section of the Florida West Coast Symphony, the same orchestra she’d first enjoyed as a child.

Mrs. Swope holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in music education (The Florida State University and George Peabody College for Teachers) and music librarianship (State University of New York at Buffalo). She has studied cello with Harry Dunscombe, David Vanderkooi, Dorothy Lewis, and Martha Gerschefski. She has completed Suzuki Teacher-Training for Violin (Book 1) and Cello (Books 1-5).

Mrs. Swope has performed with the Florida West Coast Symphony, Florida Gulf Coast Symphony (Tampa), Nashville Symphony, Chattanooga Symphony, Atlanta Chamber Orchestra, Cobb Symphony, and Anderson (SC) Chamber Orchestra. She joined the Lanier Symphony in 1983 (now the Gainesville Symphony) and served as principal cellist 1984-2004. She was cellist in The Brenau Trio and The Green Street Quartet and currently performs with Bella Musica, a string trio. In 1985 she co-founded the Brenau Suzuki School and currently gives cello lessons to children and adults at Preparatory Music, Inc. She enjoys playing chamber music, hiking, and traveling with her husband, Al. They are active members of the Oakwood First United Methodist Church.

 “Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens. If a child hears fine music from the day of his birth, and learns to play it himself, he develops sensitivity, discipline, and endurance. He gets a beautiful heart.”

                        - Shinichi Suzuki