Providing quality teaching and performance, Lisa Cherry teaches privately in her home studio in Lake Forest,CA in the OC. Also a prominent free-lancer, Lisa travels all over Southern California performing musicals, shows, church jobs and recordings.
Testimonials
“ I saw Lisa Cherry for horn lessons for 5 years from jr high thru High School. With her help, I was able to play some incredible music. She has a great teaching style, and is friendly and open to students at all levels. Some 15 years later, I started taking lessons with her again, as an adult, and have improved so much in just six months. I couldn’t be happier to have Lisa as my horn teacher!”
_________________Liz Kadison
“Before I began studying with Lisa, I wanted to be a strong horn player, but I lacked a sense of direction, which stagnated my growth as a musician. Lisa helped me identify specifically how to strengthen my playing with her crucial understanding of horn-playing techniques, critical repertoire, and the inner workings of the horn that I have yet to observe in other teachers. I strongly recommend that any horn player, at any level, study with Lisa and take to heart her comprehensive, constructive teachings.”
_________________Mitchell Garmany
“ I’d like to thank you for all that you’ve done for me and all of the other OCSA horns as our masterclass teacher this year. It is a vast improvement since last year and has developed into a useful and educational class thanks to you. I would also like to thank you for all of the help and guidance you’ve given me throughout my college audition process. I know for sure that without your help through all of it I would not be getting ready to attend Eastman this Fall, nor would I have gotten the offers I received from other schools. I am so appreciative of all the work and effort you put in during masterclass and lesson, as well as always being available to give me advice or help me make decisions in my application process. I am endlessly grateful for all the teaching and wisdom you’ve given me over the past year and look forward to being able to work together in the professional world in the future.”
________________Jack Finlay
“Five years ago I had an interest to learn how to play the French Horn and improve my techniques. However, it was extremely stressful to learn a new instrument when all of the instructors that I took lessons from didn’t quite teach me the proper expertise. Eight months ago I had just started taking lessons from Mrs. Cherry relearning everything that I have learned the past five years. I cannot express how grateful I am to have met Mrs. Cherry before starting high school. Not only has she taught me to become a better musician but thanks to her I got accepted to Orange County School of the Arts as fourth chair in French Horn in the Frederick Fennell Wind Ensemble as a freshman. I highly recommend taking lessons from Mrs. Cherry although her rates may be high it’s a lot better than the $80 hourly rate that I used to pay for my previous instructor. Mrs. Cherry not only has a reasonable price but she also has an outstanding teaching and playing experience.”
__________________Rachel Yoo
“Just want to take the opportunity to thank Lisa for her work as my horn teacher. As an adult student I really appreciate her straightforward no-nonsense way of teaching. She is a keen listener and tailors her guidance, drawn from 40+ years of study and performance, to keep moving me forward and improving my skill and confidence on this difficult instrument. In three years I have gone from a timid, weak hobbyist to principal horn in my community groups, and am looking for more opportunities to play. I like how Lisa cuts through the noise of the bazillion available methods and YouTubes about horn playing, sharing clearly what works and what doesn’t, what to concentrate on, and what to avoid that just wastes my valuable time. She is flexible with scheduling, and so supportive and encouraging every week. And I do also frankly appreciate the value of studying with her - one could pay a lot more and get a lot less. Thanks Lisa.”
___________________ Dan Tyler
“Lisa came highly recommended to me by our local music teacher. Lisa is well known and respected in the music community and has provided private French horn instruction to my son for many years. Lisa is a delight to work with. She is confident, reliable and an expert at her craft. Her personable and open disposition are a great fit for working with students. Lisa takes her work seriously, but also brings elements of fun to the horn lessons. Under Lisa’s tutelage, my son earned positions in local and state-wide honor bands and private orchestras. Lisa is well versed in the workings of local public and private music programs. Her guidance in various audition processes was most valuable, and we could not have navigated it without her. Lisa’s love for teaching and playing French horn is infectious to all around her.”
________________Shelly Stephan
“Lisa Cherry is a fantastic French Horn teacher. My son’s ability to play the French Horn improved dramatically when he began lessons with Lisa Cherry. She is talented, personable, and enthusiastic. My son is a high school student and he enjoys attending music lessons with her.”
_________________ Alyce Coffey
“My son has been taking horn lessons with Lisa for six years, since 8 years old. Lisa uses a hands-on approach which has helped him rapidly progress and keeps him motivated to play and practice. Currently, he's in the Wind Ensemble at Orange County School of the Arts. Lisa is an amazing horn teacher, and performing musician that has extensive real world experience. What stands out for me was that she encourages my son, not only to excel in music, but to be better individuals. Lisa is a wonderful, warm, funny, and caring individual which carries over into the way she teaches. I would not hesitate to recommend her to my family and friends!”
___________________Carolyn Fung
“I felt an improvement in my playing quickly after starting lessons with Lisa Cherry 3 years ago. She continually challenges me with music that expands my range and improves my musicality while equipping me with the technical skills to do so. Besides teaching at at an impressive skill level, Lisa Cherry surpasses others in personability. She legitimately cares about her students and goes above and beyond for them. I am incredibly grateful for the time I have had with her and I know I would not be able to play at the skill level I do without her instruction”.
________________Lindsay Gill, CBU
“You can tell a lot about the quality of a teacher by looking at their students. Lisa Cherry has cultivated an honest, supportive learning environment in her studio. Her students are confident, curious, and motivated -- her knowledge and experience helps guide them daily”.
_____Johanna Lundy, Prin Horn Tucson Symphony
“Lisa Cherry is an incredible French horn teacher. I have taken lessons from her for four years and have noticed a considerable improvement in my playing. Mrs. Cherry’s instruction has greatly improved my range, and technical skill. Beyond her incredible instruction Mrs. Cherry is a fantastic role model that I am so grateful to have”.
_________________Lauren Gill, CBU
“Lisa Cherry is an amazing person, musician, and teacher. Her patience is fantastic for beginners, and her knowledge of repertoire is great for those looking to Major in horn. In 2019 alone, she had 3 students make All Southern and All State ensembles. If you live in Orange County and are looking for horn lessons, email Lisa!”
…..……………… Annie Bosler, co-author of book College Prep for Musicians