Adjunct Instructor of Music
Applied Cello, Chamber Music

Widely respected for his performances of the music of all periods, cellist CHRIS FINCKEL has concertized in Europe, Australia, the Far East, Central and South America, and throughout the United States and Canada. Hailed as ‘magnificent’ by the New York Times and ‘an artist able to cast a spell’ by the New Yorker, he appears as a frequent guest with such acclaimed ensembles as the Tokyo String Quartet, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Orpheus Chamber Ensemble and Speculum Musicae and has collaborated with many diverse artists such as Walter Trampler,  Branford Marsalis, Heinz Holliger, Max Roach, Linda Ronstadt and the Paul Taylor and Mark Morris dance companies.

As cellist of the Manhattan String Quartet and the New York New Music Ensemble he appears on chamber music series worldwide and has participated in the Casals, Santa Fe, Ravinia, Saratoga, Madeira Bach, Norfolk and North Country chamber music festivals. Since 2001 he has served as co-producer of the Manhattan String Quartet’s ‘cultural expedition’ series, bringing American string players to the musical capitals of Europe to study a single String Quartet in the city of its composition. To date they have visited Paris (twice for Debussy and Ravel), Prague (twice for Dvorak and Smetana), Budapest (Bartok), Liepzig (Mendelssohn), Vienna (Beethoven) and Parma (Verdi).  A dedicated performer of contemporary music, Mr. Finckel has participated in the premiere performances of the works of over 100 composers including Elliott Carter, Mario Davidovsky, Jacob Druckman, Donald Martino, Steve Reich and Charles Wuorinen and has recorded extensively for the Nonesuch, New World, CRI, Bridge and Vanguard record labels.

Born into a family of cellists, Mr. Finckel began his studies with his father George Finckel,  and was a winner of many prizes in his native New England.  A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, he studied cello with Orlando Cole and chamber music with Mischa Schneider and members of the Guarneri Quartet. Mr. Finckel plays on a cello by Sam Zygmuntowicz, Brooklyn 2000 and lives in Yonkers, New York with his wife, violinist Deborah Wong and children guitarist Emeline, 16, and percussionist Paul, 13. Mr. Finckel joined the WCSU Department of Music Faculty in 2008.

Contact: finckelc@wcsu.edu