2024 Live Adjudicators

Amber Walton-Amar

Classical Lower Strings

Amber Walton-Amar

Amber has taught cello to adults and children for 25 years. She holds teaching certifications through the Suzuki Association of the Americas, the Royal Conservatory of Music, and the Creative Ability Development method for improvisation. She has held teaching positions at Chicago's Columbia College, Valparaiso University, the Royal Conservatory of Music, the North York Suzuki Conservatory, and maintains her own private cello studio. Most recently, Amber has created the Muse & Mate practice journal for musicians, and co-founded Quintissimo: a Sistema based free after school music program devoted to serving marginalized families in the Hastings/Prince Edward County region.

Amber's career has included touring Canada, Europe, and China with various symphonies and ensembles. She is a versatile cellist who has appeared on stages worldwide alongside artists such as KYGO, SYML, Lief Vollebek, Tyler Shaw, and Shawn Mendes. Other performance highlights include work with TIFF and TedX. As a freelance musician, Amber has performed for Prime Ministers, Presidents, dignitaries and movie stars - at storied venues such as Roy Thomson Hall, Koerner Hall, Chicago Symphony Center, Amsterdam Paradiso, Shanghai Symphony Hall, and Berlin's Kesselhaus. Amber holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Cello Performance.