Aliza Creel

I am a Juilliard-trained violist with 6 years of experience in teaching viola and violin to all ages and levels. My expertise is classical music, with additional training in Irish fiddle as well as frequent participation in jazz, contemporary, and multidisciplinary ensembles. I believe it is important to find the right fit for a teacher, and I encourage you to take a trial lesson if you are considering working with me!

Aliza Creel is a 20 year old violist who enjoys sharing her passion for classical music with anyone willing to listen. She currently studies under Carol Rodland at the Juilliard School, and has previously worked with Molly Carr, Matthew Lipman, and Steve Larson. She began violin at age 4, and at 15 chose to pursue viola full time. Just one year later, Aliza served as principal violist of the 2022 US National Youth Orchestra. She recently returned as part of the 2025 NYO-USA All Stars Orchestra, which was featured alongside Yuja Wang in the opening performance of Carnegie Hall's 2025-2026 season. She also participated in the 2024 New York String Orchestra Seminar, which appeared at a sold-out Carnegie Hall under the baton of Jamie Laredo. She is an alumni of the Perlman Music Program, where she has been mentored by Merry Peckham, Itzhak Perlman, and members of the Juilliard String Quartet.

In addition to her studies. Aliza enjoys exploring new and underrepresented music. She has premiered dozens of student compositions, and in 2025 performed a new arrangement of Matthew Aucoin’s This Earth as part of Juilliard at Zankel Hall. She is currently working on a viola arrangement of Amanda Maier’s Violin Sonata, which she plans to record and publish. Aliza is also active in community enrichment. She is part of a multidisciplinary Gluck ensemble which combines dance and musical storytelling to educate community audiences. She has worked in multiple Juilliard teaching positions, including a CLIMB fellowship and a viola mentorship in the Precollege Symphony Orchestra. Beyond music, Aliza enjoys spending time with her cats and drinking tea.

I aim to create individual curriculums that help students achieve their personal musical goals. For some, this may look like a combination of foundational technique (through excercises and etudes) and fun, modern pieces (such as pop arrangements). For others, it may mean following a more traditional classical teaching system and aiming towards joining a community orchestra. If you choose to work with me, we will come up with a plan that ensures your own hunger for knowledge is thoroughly satisfied through our time together.

No matter the level or genre, musical improvement requires innovation and knowledge beyond the technical demands of the instrument. I like to incorporate time without the instrument into my students' weekly practice schedules. This can be done many different ways: stretching, meditation, researching a piece or composer, listening to different interpretations... there are so many ways our brain can "practice" even when we are not actively making music. 

On the instrument, I do take one thing very seriously - technique. Not everybody's technique is the same, nor should it be! (For example, fiddle technique is extremely different than classical). With this in mind, I place an emphasis on learning and maintaining the basics of playing violin and viola. I require my students to complete a brief musical warmup before a practice session, as this is essential for avoiding injury and maintaining our best form. Exercises do not have to be monotonous, and together we will find exciting ways to approach this crucial part of learning an instrument. As long as you agree to meet this small requirement, I can guide you towards whatever musical goals you wish to pursue.