by Len Lear

PART TWO

West Mt. Airy resident Rachel Cama Nemer, 37, who will be offering a free cello introductory workshop on Thursday, Aug. 23, at St. Paul’s Church for the Chestnut Hill Music Academy, has been a journalist, singer, voice teacher, cellist and yoga instructor, all at the professional level.

A scholarship music major who graduated from Penn State in 2003, Rachel could not be confined to one discipline:

•How did the teaching of yoga come about?

“In my mid-20s, I started practicing yoga and meditation because I was already having issues from performing. By my late-20s, I hit near burnout after a long tour; rather, I was not taking care of my body and had become an anxious individual. Yoga was my answer. It was so captivating and effective that I took a whole year ‘off’ from performing — well, I greatly reduced my performance schedule — to live at an ashram in rural Pennsylvania. It was complete culture shock but also incredibly refreshing. I studied yoga (the movement practice), meditation, Sanskrit language and Eastern philosophy. At first, I enjoyed the break from constantly thinking about music; as I neared the end of my year there, I was craving music again.

“I moved to Philadelphia and immediately took what work I could in both yoga and music. I have taught yoga for the last eight years but discovered that it is not practical financially to only teach yoga. Most of my yoga work now is directly with musicians and artists. I teach people how to use their bodies better in performance, which was the entire reason I started doing yoga myself!”

•Where have you been teaching yoga?

“I’ve taught at so many yoga studios, but Whole Body Yoga Studio in North Wales has been a cornerstone of my teaching throughout the years. I also teach people in their homes, and I integrate yoga techniques (breathing, subtle stretches) into my music teaching.”

•How do you feel about the state of musical education in the U.S. today since many public schools have either cut way back or done away with it?

“I am a huge supporter of public schools (and a product of public schools myself) and hope that we can continue the push to keep music in the schools — for my children, for ALL of our children. I just don’t have the answer.”

•What have you been doing professionally in recent years?

“Performing on viola da gamba and cello (mostly the baroque version of the instrument), and I sing professionally! My most recent choir work has been with the Cathedral Basilica of SS Peter & Paul and First Presbyterian Church, 21st & Walnut, where I am currently a staff singer. I have also been teaching strings, both violin and cello.”

•Who are your own favorite musicians and composers?

“Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643), Marin Marais (1656-1728) — or did you mean people you have heard of? J.S.Bach (of course), Shostakovich, Debussy. People who are alive: Mazzy Star, Thom Yorke, Jordi Savall and Lisa Fischer. I could go on. My interests are diverse!”

•What is the best advice you ever received?

“One of my yoga gurus, Rolf Sovik, urged everyone to practice ‘Relentless Optimism.’ I’d like to think that statement guides me — or at least it is something I attempt in my everyday life.”

•What is the hardest thing you have ever done?

“If you asked me five years ago, I would have said graduate school because grad school in music is supposed to be tough. But, the hardest thing I’ve ever done is parenting! Everything from birthing my sons to taking care of their daily needs — and then realizing that they are little individuals who are not ME. I’ve been learning that my older son is an extrovert, a brilliant conversationalist and truly a little force of nature — and I was not that kind of child!”

•If you could meet and spend time with any individuals on earth, past or present, who would they be and why?

“Some brilliant women I looked up to as I was becoming an adult — author Madeleine L’Engle, cellist Jacqueline DuPre (who died so young), Hillary Clinton (yes, I’ve followed her career). I’d love to meet Hildegard von Bingen, the medieval German abbess, writer, poet, visionary, composer — because I have no idea what or who she was, and I enjoy dreaming about historical figures.”

Rachel’s husband, Daniel Nemer, is a rock guitarist and acupuncturist who practices in Germantown (www.gtownacupuncture.com). Their son, Cole, 4, just started the violin, and son Dennis turned 1 on July 18. More information at www.rachelcamanemer.com. Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com