A cellist’s journey to the orchestra classroom
March is Women’s History Month, which was established in 1987 to recognize women’s contributions to history, culture, and society and highlight their vital role in many areas, such as education.
Elis Ramos, a cellist from Havana, Cuba, has turned her passion for classical music and teaching into a career that now brings her to the conductors’ podium at Judge Louis A. Bedford Jr. Law Academy. As the school’s orchestra teacher, Ramos is guiding students to build a legacy of excellence in music.
Growing up in Cuba, Ramos was surrounded by the sounds of Latin music. Her home would often be filled with the sounds of jazz and classical music played by her siblings, including works by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Her father, a well-known electric guitarist in Cuba, laid the foundation for their interest in music.
“I grew up with musicians all around me, so choosing music felt natural,” she said. “My parents never forced me to play, but they guided me in that direction. Now we have another generation of musicians in our family. My nephews and nieces also play instruments. We are a big family of musicians.”
At just 5 years old, Ramos was drawn to the piano, but after attending a symphony performance with her mother, she instantly knew she wanted to play the cello. Ramos began conservatory-level training at 6 years old, which set her on a lifelong musical path.
After more than 20 years as a music educator and the last three years as the orchestra teacher at Bedford Academy, Ramos continues to prepare students for success in auditions and performances.
Inside her classroom, the sound of tuning strings often fills the room as students warm up their instruments for rehearsal. Ramos guides students in listening to one another and balancing their sound. She teaches sight-reading skills while also rehearsing their pieces for competitions.
This year, her students excelled in UIL Solo and Ensemble competitions. Two orchestra students received honors—Gold in the Level 3 beginner competition and Bronze in the Level 1 advanced competition, reflecting the discipline and preparation of many hours dedicated to their craft and the love for music she has imparted to them.
“I try to find balance between the rigor of learning complex string instruments and giving students time to rest their minds and process what they have learned,” she said.
For many students, music is therapeutic, Ramos noted. At Bedford, the orchestra classroom has become a space where students can focus on their instruments, away from other distractions, while building discipline and confidence as musicians.
“I believe I am here at my school for a reason. I have a mission here,” Ramos said. “I don’t just see this as a job. I have a personal mission to teach the students here. They are very special students.”
Over the years, Ramos’ musical palette has expanded. In her early years in Cuba, she remembers hearing the voice of Frank Sinatra playing from her father’s radio. As an adult in the United States, her love for R&B and soul artists such as D’Angelo; Earth, Wind and Fire; and the Isley Brothers has continued to grow.
Ramos’ musical talents are not confined to the classroom. She continues to perform with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, the Irving Symphony Orchestra, and a variety of venues and events across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
Ramos received a doctoral degree in education from Nova Southeastern University in Florida. Her adult foundation in classical music began during her undergraduate studies at The University of Arts of Cuba, where she received conservatory-level training.
“My power as a musician comes from the hours of practice I have put in,” she said. “The hours of preparation and sight-reading. When I go on stage to perform, the music speaks for itself. Even if I’m Hispanic, if I have curly hair, if I’m mixed, nobody is going to stop the talent that somebody has. When you go on stage and play and touch people’s hearts, no barriers can stop that.”
