Tim Janof, Author at CelloBello

About Tim Janof

Tim Janof was Editor for the Internet Cello Society for over twelve years, where over 100 of his articles and in-depth interviews of world-renowned cellists were published. He is the past President of the Seattle Violoncello Society and a former cello instructor at Music Center of the Northwest. He has had articles published in American String Teacher and Strad magazines and was featured in Strings Magazine. He was a featured speaker at the American String Teacher Association’s 2015 National Conference, University of Iowa’s Cello Daze, and Central Washington University’s Cello Celebration. Ovation Press has published several of his cello compositions, including Rondo in Blue (for cello and piano) and V&T Blues (for flute and cello). His cello teachers include Toby Saks, Eva Heinitz, and Cordelia Wikarski-Miedel.

Conversation with Ofra Harnoy (December, 1996)

Born in Israel, Ofra Harnoy studied with her father, Vladimir Orloff, and William Pleeth. After her family moved to Canada, her debut as soloist with orchestra at age 10 was followed immediately by solo engagements with the Toronto and Montreal Symphony Orchestras. Winning the 1982 International Concert Artists Guild award (the youngest ever) led to her concerto and recital debuts in Carnegie Hall, which won both public and critical acclaim; in 1983 she was named Young Musician of the Year by "Musical America" magazine. She has appeared as soloist with major orchestras on five continents, and has been featured in hundreds of televised solo concerts in Canada, Japan, Australia, England, and throughout Europe. Twice she has played before H.R.H. Prince Charles by invitation, and several times before members of Japan's [...]

By Tim Janof|2021-07-05T18:34:19-04:00June 28th, 2021|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Interviews, Performance, Repertoire|Tags: performance, repertoire, Technique, Pierre Fournier, Jacqueline du Pré, Ofra Harnoy, Practice, Vladimir Orloff|

Conversation with Colin Carr (January, 2003)

Interview by Tim Janof Colin Carr has appeared throughout the world as soloist, chamber musician, recording artist, and teacher. As a soloist, he has played with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, The Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, and the orchestras of Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, Philadelphia, and Montreal. He is a regular guest at the BBC Proms, he has twice toured Australia, and he recently played concertos in South Korea, Hong Kong, and New Zealand. Last year he returned to the Philharmonia in London and made his debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Mark Elder. This year he toured with Mr. Elder and the Halle Orchestra, playing the Dvorak, Elgar, and Walton Concertos. Other highlights included a performance of the Dvorak Concerto to close the Prague Autumn Festival, [...]

By Tim Janof|2021-06-28T04:45:27-04:00June 14th, 2021|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Interviews, Performance, Repertoire, Teaching|Tags: William Pleeth, Interpretation, Maurice Gendron, Teaching, repertoire, Technique, Anner Bylsma|

Conversation with Arto Noras (April, 1998)

Interview by Tim Janof Arto Noras appears regularly with major orchestras throughout the world and has recorded extensively. A former student of Paul Tortelier at the Paris Conservatoire, he was a runner-up at the Tchaikovsky Competition in 1966. He is also well-known for his appearances as a distinguished chamber musician and is a founding member of the Sibelius Academy Quartet. He is also the founder and artistic director of the Naantali Music Festival, as well as founder of the International Paulo Cello Competition. Since 1970, he has been Professor of Cello at the Sibelius Academy. TJ: You studied with Paul Tortelier. Were you the student he worked with for six hours on the first note of Schelomo? AN: No, we did that with the opening scale of the Bach's Third [...]

By Tim Janof|2022-06-18T15:48:12-04:00May 31st, 2021|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Competition, Interviews, Performance, Repertoire|Tags: Bach, Interpretation, vibrato, Paul Tortelier, Performance Practice|

Conversation with Siegfried Palm (May, 1998)

Interview by Tim Janof Siegfried Palm has had a distinguished and varied performing career. He was Principal Cellist of orchestras in Lubeck, Hamburg, and Cologne, cellist in the Hamann Quartet, and a member of a trio with Max Rostal and Heinz Schroter. He has given masterclasses worldwide and has served as a jury member at numerous international competitions. He has recorded for several companies and has had works dedicated to him by composers such as Krzystof Penderecki, Yannis Xenakis, Boris Blacher, and Gyorgy Ligeti. He was Director of the State Conservatoire in Cologne, Director of the Deutsche Oper in Berlin, President of the German Composers' Society, and President of ESTA. In 1969 and 1976 he was awarded the German Gramophone prize, and in 1972 he was awarded the Grand Prix [...]

By Tim Janof|2021-05-24T15:56:33-04:00May 17th, 2021|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Interviews, Performance, Repertoire|Tags: Interpretation, Contemporary Music, 20th Century Music, Enrico Mainardi, Siegfried Palm|

Conversation with Ralph Kirshbaum (March, 1997)

Interview by Tim Janof Ralph Kirshbaum's career encompasses solo performance, recitals, chamber music, teaching, and recording. He has appeared as soloist with major orchestras in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Each summer, he performs in chamber music festivals throughout the world. Mr. Kirshbaum is founder and artistic director of the RNCM Manchester International Cello Festival held every two years at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England, where he also teaches. TJ: You studied with Lev Aronson of the Dallas Symphony. You once said that he had a beautiful sound and right-hand technique. Was there something unique about his approach to bowing? RK: I wouldn't say that he had a unique technique, though, perhaps because of the profound experiences he had in Europe and in the [...]

By Tim Janof|2023-05-15T13:35:14-04:00May 3rd, 2021|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Interviews, Performance, Repertoire, Teaching|Tags: Aldo Parisot, Lev Aronson, Technical Freedom, Bach, Interpretation, repertoire|

Conversation with Glenn Garlick (September, 1995)

Interview by Tim Janof Glenn Garlick is the Assistant Principal Cellist of the National Symphony in Washington, DC. TJ: Looking over your bio, I see you studied at Eastman with Ron Leonard, who is now principal cellist of the LA Philharmonic. Did he have any principal themes in his teaching? GG: Time and time again I give thanks to Ron Leonard for the work he did with my bow arm. The thing that Ron did the most was to clean up my approach to the bow. He had excellent training himself, being a disciple of Leonard Rose and the legendary violinist, Ivan Galamian, who taught at Juilliard and ran the Meadowmount Music Camp during the summers. Ron also played for Casals and was the principal cellist of the Casals Festival [...]

By Tim Janof|2021-04-26T16:25:32-04:00April 19th, 2021|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Interviews, Orchestra, Performance, Repertoire|Tags: Ron Leonard, Joseph Gingold, Orchestral Playing, career, Mstislav Rostropovich|

Conversation with Zuill Bailey (March, 2002)

Interview by Tim Janof Zuill Bailey is an engaging, multi-faceted American artist; a powerful performer who dazzles audiences with his technical and artistic command of the cello. His performances encompass concerts with orchestra, recitals and chamber music in the U.S. and abroad. The 2002/03 season begins with Mr. Bailey performing with the Chicago Symphony and Itzhak Perlman conducting in the opening weekend of the Ravinia Festival. Other concerto appearances include performances with the National Orchestra de Cuba, Phoenix, South Carolina, El Paso, Illinois, Lexington, Knoxville, and San Luis Obispo Symphonies. Bailey also continues his partnership with pianist Awadagin Pratt in a series of Duo recitals in addition to his recitals in Texas, Nevada, Washington DC, Arizona, Idaho, and Arkansas. An avid chamber musician, Bailey will also be presenting concerts in [...]

By Tim Janof|2023-05-01T13:22:05-04:00April 5th, 2021|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Interviews, In the Practice Room, Performance, Repertoire|Tags: repertoire, recordings, Joel Krosnick, Stephen Kates, Bach, Loran Stephenson, Practice|

Conversation with Carter Brey (April, 2000)

Interview by Tim Janof Carter Brey was appointed Principal Cellist of the New York Philharmonic in 1996. He rose to international attention in 1981 as a prizewinner in the Rostropovich International Cello Competition. Subsequent appearances with Rostropovich and the National Symphony Orchestra were unanimously praised. The winner of the Gregor Piatigorsky Memorial Prize, Avery Fisher Career Grant, the Young Concert Artists Michaels Award and other honors, he also was the first musician to win the Arts Council of Americas Performing Arts Prize. Mr. Brey has appeared as soloist with virtually all the major orchestras in the United States, and has performed under the batons of Claudio Abbado, Semyon Bychkov, Sergiu Comissiona, Christoph von Dohnanyi, and other prominent conductors. In 1990, he was featured in a concert with cellist Yo-Yo Ma [...]

By Tim Janof|2023-02-27T12:56:12-05:00March 22nd, 2021|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Interviews, Performance, Repertoire|Tags: Interpretation, repertoire, Technique, Mstislav Rostropovich, laurence lesser, Aldo Parisot, Stephen Kates|

Conversation with Lynn Harrell (June, 1996)

Interview by Tim Janof Lynn Harrell is known throughout the world as a cellist, chamber musician, recitalist, conductor, teacher, and recording artist. Mr. Harrell is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Piatigorsky Award, the Ford Foundation Concert Artists' Award, and the first Avery Fisher Prize (jointly with Murray Perahia). TJ: As a teenager you lost both your parents. This kind of trauma would emotionally cripple most people for years. How did you manage to overcome this tragedy and become one of the world's most acclaimed cellists? LH: It took me a long time to come to terms with it. It's an experience that I wouldn't wish on anyone. But I have found the resilience of the human spirit to be extraordinary. Look at what is going on in Bosnia [...]

By Tim Janof|2024-03-11T13:14:27-04:00March 8th, 2021|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Interviews, Orchestra, Performance, Repertoire, Self Discovery|Tags: bow hold, Interpretation, career, Orlando Cole, Leonard Rose, George Szell, Bach Suites, musicality|

Conversation with Irene Sharp (December, 1997)

Interview by Tim Janof Cellist Irene Sharp has been acclaimed internationally for her teaching. She has given master classes for the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), the European String Teachers Association, the Australian String Teachers Association, and the Suzuki Association of America. Although based in Northern California, Ms. Sharp has worked with students in cities such as New York, London, Salzburg, Hamburg, Sydney, Tokyo, and Taipei. Currently on the faculty of the Mannes College of Music, she has also served on the faculty of the Meadowmount School for Strings, the Bowdoin (Maine) Summer Music Festival, and Indiana University's String Academy. Ms. Sharp is Artistic Director of California Summer Music, a festival for young string players, pianists, and composers ages 12 to 23 held at Pebble Beach, California. She has been [...]

By Tim Janof|2024-02-19T13:25:48-05:00February 22nd, 2021|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Interviews, Performance, Repertoire, Teaching|Tags: Irene Sharp, Interpretation, Teaching, Rhythm, Technique, Pedagogy|

Conversation with Bonnie Hampton (September, 1996)

Interview by Tim Janof Bonnie Hampton leads an active life as a chamber musician, soloist, and teacher. Ms. Hampton has been involved in performances of new music since the beginning of her career and has been active in contemporary music groups. She has also been the cellist of the Francesco Trio for 32 years. A student of Pablo Casals, she participated for many years in the Casals and Marlboro Festivals. Ms. Hampton teaches at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and, during the summer, at the Banff Centre and the Tanglewood Music Center. She has served as president of Chamber Music America. TJ: You studied with the great cello pedagogue, Margaret Rowell. What was she like as a teacher? BH: I started my study with her when I was 8 [...]

By Tim Janof|2023-01-30T12:51:24-05:00February 8th, 2021|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Chamber Music, Interviews, Pablo Casals, Performance, Repertoire, Teaching|Tags: chamber music, Pablo Casals, Zara Nelsova, Interpretation, Contemporary Music, Margaret Rowell, Technique, Colin Hampton|

Conversation with Ron Leonard (February, 1996)

Interview by Tim Janof Ronald Leonard is well known as a soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. He has been Principal Cellist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 1975, and is the Gregor Piatigorsky Professor of Cello at the University of Southern California. He has performed concertos with Zubin Mehta, Michael Tilson-Thomas, Carlo Maria Giulini, Andre Previn, Simon Rattle, and Esa-Pekka Salonen. He has appeared as guest artist with the Juilliard, Guarneri, Angeles, Mendelssohn, Borremeo, Chilingarian, and American Quartets. TJ: You studied with Orlando Cole and Leonard Rose at the Curtis Institute. How did their teaching methods compare? RL: I studied with them at the same time, believe it or not. They were two very different musical personalities. They approached the instrument, both technically and musically, from quite different viewpoints, [...]

By Tim Janof|2023-05-22T12:27:39-04:00January 23rd, 2021|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Auditions, Interviews, Orchestra, Performance, Repertoire, Teaching|Tags: Auditions, orchestra, bow technique, Interpretation, Leonard Rose, Orlando Cole, Rhythm|

Conversation with Nathaniel Rosen (March, 1996)

Interview by Tim Janof Nathaniel Rosen, former Teaching Assistant for Gregor Piatigorsky at the University of Southern California, is renowned for being the only American cellist to ever win the Tchaikovsky Competition in Russia. Mr. Rosen is in much demand as a soloist, recording artist, and chamber musician. He teaches at the Manhattan School of Music and the Thomas More College in New Hampshire. TJ: Eleonore Schoenfeld, Professor of Cello at USC, was your first teacher. What was she like? NR: I studied cello with her from the beginning, starting with open strings. She was well organized and patient, but still very demanding. Because of this, she has become one of the best in the business. The finest young talents from all over the world seek her guidance. She stressed [...]

By Tim Janof|2021-01-25T16:36:50-05:00January 17th, 2021|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Interviews, Performance, Repertoire|Tags: Eleonore Schoenfeld, Interpretation, Gregor Piatigorsky, intonation, Competition, Bach Cello Suites, expressive intonation|

Conversation with Steven Isserlis (April, 2004)

Steven Isserlis is a remarkable cellist whose commitment to and obvious pleasure in music making is an inspiration to audiences and fellow-musicians. His artistic profile is characterised by a uniquely beautiful sound, a diverse choice of repertoire, a passion for finding neglected works and, above all, empathy with the music he plays. Steeped in music from birth - his grandfather was the Russian pianist and composer Julius Isserlis, while older branches of his family tree have a direct line to Felix Mendelssohn -- Steven Isserlis has communicated through music from an early age. As Artistic Director of IMS Prussia Cove in Cornwall -- a role he inherited from founder Sandor Vegh -- this energy and passion for communicating and educating is evident in the annual master classes and chamber music [...]

By Tim Janof|2022-10-22T12:47:27-04:00January 11th, 2021|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Interviews, Performance, Repertoire|Tags: improvisation, Jacqueline du Pré, Interpretation, shifting, Janos Starker, Technique|

Conversation with Pieter Wispelwey (April, 2002)

Interview by Tim Janof Pieter Wispelwey is one of the first of a generation of performers equally adept on either the 'authentic' or modern cello. His expert stylistic knowledge, augmented by a phenomenal technique enable him to render individual, yet remarkable interpretations of the cello repertoire from J.S. Bach to Elliott Carter. For years now, he has won the hearts of critics and public alike with his unique performances of the Bach and Britten unaccompanied cello suites, and with his recitals of the Beethoven and Brahms sonatas either on baroque or modern instruments. Born in Haarlem, Netherlands, Wispelwey's diverse musical personality is rooted in the training he received -- from early years with Dicky Boeke and Anner Bylsma in Amsterdam to studies with Paul Katz in the USA and William [...]

By Tim Janof|2023-11-30T17:41:19-05:00January 6th, 2021|Categories: Internet Cello Society Archive, Artistic Vision, Interviews, Performance, Repertoire|Tags: Andre Navarra, Dicky Boeke, Schumann Cello Concerto, Paul Katz, Anner Bylsma, Bach Cello Suites, William Pleeth|

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