All About Cello

“Michael Samis is a terrific cellist. His solo playing is strong and impassioned, yet exquisitely sensitive.
He has a formidable technique to back up his superb musicianship.”

~Nicholas McGegan, Music Director-Conductor

“Cellist Michael Samis and pianist Leah Bowes gave a riveting performance.
The urgency in Samis’ playing won the evening’s most enthusiastic applause.”

~John Pitcher, ArtNowNashville

Recognized for his “shining and expressive” playing (The Tennessean)Tennessean), “confidence, conviction and precision” (ArtsNash), and “haunting” tone (The Cincinnati Post), Michael Samis is an accomplished solo, chamber and orchestral cellist...

David Eggert is a young Canadian cellist with a blossoming international performing career. Known for a dominating stage presence and imaginative interpretation, he has an inventive approach to the traditional repertoire while fostering a strong commitment to musical creation of our time. Solo appearances in Europe and North America herald the 25-year old as an upcoming talent.

Eggert won first prize and five special awards at the 2008 International Cello Competition Antonio Janigro in Zagreb, and received an honorary award at the Naumburg International Cello Competition in New York.

Born in Edmonton in 1985, Eggert was cellistically raised by Tanya Prochazka, with whom he studied for thirteen years...

Since graduation from the Eastman School of Music “with Distinction” and the Artists Certificate, Carter Enyeart has enjoyed a varied and distinguished musical career. His early orchestral positions were with the Pittsburgh and San Francisco Symphony Orchestras and later as Principal Cellist of the Dallas Opera. He was invited to join the world renowned Philadelphia String Quartet in 1976 and performed all over the world with that ensemble for 6 seasons to critical acclaim. His chamber music career continued at his first teaching post at Ball State University (Indiana) where he was a founding member of the American Piano Trio...

Born in 1987, Andreas Brantelid is already one of Scandinavia’s leading cellists and is quickly establishing an international reputation. He is currently a member of the Lincoln Centre Chamber Music Society in New York performing regular concerts in that city and elsewhere in North America. During the 2010/11 season Andreas will make his debut with the Munich Chamber Orchestra (Germany and Spain), Brussels Philharmonic (Amsterdam Concertgebouw) and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Andreas made his concerto debut at the age of 14 with the Royal Danish Orchestra in Copenhagen playing the Elgar Cello Concerto. Since then he has appeared as a soloist with all the major orchestras in Scandinavia, including the recent world premiere of Rosing-Schow’s Cello Concerto with the Danish ...

Cellist Pamela Smits has received wide acclaim for her phenomenal command of technique, diversity and natural way of playing. Recently Jerry Dubins of the American Fanfare Magazine described her playing as “Smits’s technical wizardry is nothing short of amazing, but it’s secured in service to an equally instinctive musicality”. Her repertoire encompasses works from the Baroque, Romantic and up through the Contemporary periods.

Following his success at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow Tim enjoys an international career as soloist. He has since worked and recorded with many of the greatest conductors including Gergiev, Previn, Haitink, Sir Colin Davis, Sir Andrew Davis, Rostropovich, Menuhin, Harding, Xavier-Roth, Chung and Tortelier.

Tim studied at Yale with Aldo Parisot and afterwards with Pleeth and Jaqueline du Pre whilst gaining his MA in Medicine and Anthropology at St Johns College, Cambridge. His developing interest in contemporary music led to performances of Boulez’ Messagesquisse with BBC symphony and LSO, Dutilleux “ Tout un Monde Lontain”, Britten Cello Symphony , Hugh Wood concerto all at the Albert Hall Proms ...

Cellist Wendy Law has appeared as soloist with renowned orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Singapore Symphony, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Russian Philharmonic, and Juilliard Orchestra.  Ms. Law has performed throughout North America, appearing in such venues as Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall and Alice Tully Hall, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the J.F. Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. and Jordan Hall, Boston.  An active chamber musician, she has collaborated with the Borromeo String Quartet, the Chameleon Arts Ensemble of Boston, Yo-Yo Ma and Pamela Frank among others.  A proponent of the interdisciplinary arts, Ms. Law collaborates with artists from other genres...

An accomplished classical, rock, and folk cellist, Natalie has performed as a member of several ensembles, including most recently the Élan Duo (with Doug O’Connor, saxophone), the Great Noise Ensemble, the Low End String Quartet and the Washington, D.C. based cello rock ensemble, Primitivity. With a strong interest in contemporary music, Natalie has enjoyed mastering and premiering new and experimental works for cello, including several recent projects with live electronics and tape.

Natalie has performed as a soloist with Graham Reynolds in The Kennedy Center’s presentation of The Difference Engine, with the University of Maryland Percussion Ensemble, and with the Canton Symphony Orchestra, and has presented world premiere performances in venues including Ravinia, Severance Hall,...

At the age of 4, after one year of violin lessons, Yann Merker began studying the cello through the Suzuki Method with Ann Grabe. When Ms. Grabe left for the United States, Yann Merker was 10 years old and had already performed duo concerts with pianist Anne-Lise Dodelier in the Côte St-André and in the Royaume de la Musique in Paris. He also began chamber music and orchestral studies at this time.

At the age 14, he was admitted to the Conservatoire National de Région de Lyon as a member of Patrick Gabard’s cello class. His other teachers included Daniel Gaudet for music analysis, Jérôme Dorival for music history and Nathalie Geoffray-Canavesio (Ravel Quartet) for chamber music.

After he received his médaille d’or from the national conservatory, he went to Berlin to complete his cel...