An improvising cellist, Laurie is dedicated to creating music — especially new music! — that features the cello. An accomplished classical musician, Laurie loves the variety in performing jazz, folk and improvisatory music. From Lancaster, PA, she is a Certified Healthcare Musician (CHM), going into retirement centers and playing for room-bound residents, hospice patients, and giving concerts for groups of residents (large & small).

A versatile musician, she performs with Celtic & folk music group Abigail’s Garden and free-lances in the folk & classical worlds. She has performed on the east coast, in Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, Hawaii, New York & Europe. Laurie has over 30 recordings to her credit, as a member of several bands as well as free-lance session playing.
She holds a Master of Music in Cello Performance degree from the University of Southern California. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in cello performance from the University of Miami.

She worked with jazz great Ira Sullivan while in Miami. Also while in Miami, she played for several theaters and performed shows with Melissa Manchester, Henry Mancini, the Harlem Ballet Theater and Gloria Estefan’s group Miami Sound Machine. She did many recording sessions in Miami for various groups, including Jon Anderson (of YES)’s Christmas CD. While living on Maui, she performed the Boccherini Cello Concerto with the Maui Symphony, and performed in the pop/jazz trio Chamber Jazz Maui. Since returning to southcentral PA, her bands have opened for Gaelic Storm, Grey Eye Glances, and others.

As a teacher, she incorporates ideas from many types of teaching styles. She lets the student lead the direction of their study, guiding them to the best techniques and repertoire to help them fulfill their goals. She works with students of all levels, studying all sorts of music, from advanced classical concerto repertoire to improvisation in folk, bluegrass, jazz and Celtic music.

She has taught improvisation to young string players at Strings Excell since 1998. She formerly taught string methods, private lessons & pedagogy at Millersville University, F&M College, Messiah College & Lebanon Valley College. She was also a Rostered Artist with the PA Council on the Arts for several years, presenting sponsored residencies & performances in schools.

With her husband, Tom Reese, Laurie produced an impressive catalog of over 20 CDs and DVDs. The DVD’s are their original scores to the intrigue and magic of silent films.