Teaching 22 years · Philadelphia Orchestra since 1998 · • · Essential Excerpts — Autumn cohort now open · • · Studio in Bryn Mawr, PA · Melbourne, FL · Online worldwide · • · 100+ students taught · Scholarships to Oberlin, Indiana, Eastman, Richmond
Teaching 22 years · Philadelphia Orchestra since 1998 · • · Essential Excerpts — Autumn cohort now open · • · Studio in Bryn Mawr, PA · Melbourne, FL · Online worldwide · • · 100+ students taught · Scholarships to Oberlin, Indiana, Eastman, Richmond
— STUDENT & PARENT TESTIMONIALS
Over twenty-two years, more than one hundred violinists have walked through the doors of Amoroso Violin Studio. Here is what happens when disciplined practice, microscopic technical attention, and deep musical joy come together.
STUDENTS MENTORED
YEARS TEACHING
MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS
AUDITION READINESS
Amoroso Violin studio was started in 2004 and has educated 100+ students from all ages and violin playing abilities. Most notably, substantial scholarships have been awarded to students graduating high school. Advancing to prestigious music schools such as Oberlin University and Indiana University. Many of the students while in High school have also participated as members in the most esteemed youth orchestras in the greater Philadelphia area. In addition, several have participated in Pennsylvania Regionals and Pennsylvania State Orchestras.
My daughter took weekly private lessons with Richard from the summer after sixth grade through high school graduation. During that time she participated in yearly merit scholarship auditions through the Reading Musical Foundation and won a full 4-year tuition scholarship to Berklee College of Music.
Richard was my teacher for five years, from eighth grade until high school graduation. As an orchestra member himself, he understands efficiency. I feel that I have saved myself from injury and from many wasted hours in the practice room because of Rich’s teaching.
I was able to continue to have my violin be a primary focus, while also exploring other academic fields. Rich understood the value in that balance, and helped me navigate auditioning for scholarships where both options were available.
My son has improved significantly after starting with Mr. Amoroso. I don’t know much about music, but I can tell the sound he plays out now is so much better than in the past. My son was accepted into the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, which he had dreamed about.
Jamie began taking lessons with Mr. Amoroso six years ago when she was ten. She quickly progressed as she was shown proper technique and inspired by his playing. She went on to win concertmaster positions across regional and state festival orchestras.
Rich’s systematic breakdown of orchestral excerpts — shifting points, bow division, and rhythmic pulse — gave me the confidence to advance to final rounds in major symphony auditions. His insights from 25+ years in The Philadelphia Orchestra are unmatched.
Every lesson focuses on the physics of tone: bow weight, speed, and contact point. Rather than repeating mistakes endlessly, students learn how to identify tension instantly and produce a rich, resonant sound with minimal physical effort.
Violin playing requires asymmetrical physical effort. Richard teaches ergonomic posture, relaxed shoulder mechanics, and balanced hand positioning that protects students from overuse injuries and ensures a lifetime of pain-free playing.
Playing beautifully in the practice room is one thing; playing behind a screen in front of an orchestra committee is another. Richard teaches mental preparation, mock audition simulation, and deliberate practice routines that keep nerves steady under high stakes.
Every student has unique goals. Whether preparing prescreening videos for Juilliard, Curtis, or Oberlin, or pursuing double-majors with full academic merit scholarships, Richard helps navigate repertoire selection and audition filming.
Watch and listen to studio students performing standard concerto repertoire, virtuosic showpieces, and orchestral audition excerpts.
Whether you are auditioning for conservatory, preparing for orchestral trials, or seeking to master the instrument from the ground up — the studio is ready for you.
