My name is Gabriel Pelli, and I'm a lifelong musician who has taught hundreds of students in the Chapel Hill, North Carolina area over the last 25 years. I started playing violin at age 5 in my home town of Zurich, Switzerland, with the Suzuki Method. This style of violin pedagogy stresses learning by ear and memorization, listening, step by step skill building, positive reinforcement, and repetition and review. I still use these concepts for myself and my teaching. Later, I taught myself guitar, along with other stringed instruments, and have studied with many masters since then.
I was voted a finalist in the 2021 Indy Weekly “Best Music Lessons in the Triangle” category. Along with teaching private and personalized one-on-one lessons out of my home studio, I've also taught group lessons at the Chapel Hill/Durham Suzuki Workshop, Carrboro Django Reinhardt Festival, Hoppin' John Fiddlers' Convention, Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance, Pine Cone, local schools, and more.
I spent 10 years working for UNC Hospitals “Door to Door” program, playing music for patients in various states of health and hospitalization.
I hold a degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and live here with my wife, two children, and a dog.
I also perform locally and beyond, with my bands Onyx Club Boys, The Old Ceremony, Grand Shores, and have composed and performed music for film and theater.
Check out some of my work here:
Thank you, and I look forward to starting lessons soon!
Gabriel