Hailed by John Williams as “an outstanding cellist and truly dedicated artist,” Emmanuel Feldman has commissioned over 60 works by composers such as Harbison, Schuller and Kernis. Described by Gramophone as “an artist who combines communicative urgency with tonal splendor,” Feldman’s recent release Our American Roots (Delos) includes the rarely heard George Walker sonata.
Feldman has performed in the U.S. and internationally as a soloist, chamber musician and composer. An enthusiastic collaborator, he has partnered in a wide range of creative projects with Bobby McFerrin, the Mark Morris Dance Group, and Verona String Quartet. Awarded grants from the Argosy and Thomson Foundations, Feldman released two world premiere recordings, one of which earned a Grammy nomination for producer Blanton Alspaugh. Mr. Feldman’ own compositions have been performed by the Commonwealth Chorale, City of Tomorrow Wind Quintet, and New England String Ensemble.
Born in New York City to a large musical family, Feldman first studied the violin, piano and French horn and then chose the cello at age 12 and studied at the Curtis Institute of Music. A skilled luthier, he is the inventor of the innovative TekPin™ cello endpin.