CELLISTS

Derek Snyder

Derek Snyder began his cello studies at the age of six. He progressed smoothly until Tuesday, 17th March, 1982, when he left his cello behind the family station wagon while waiting for his Suzuki group class. Having fully recovered from the “accident,” Derek maintains an active performing schedule. He has appeared as a soloist with orchestras in both the United States and Europe, and as a chamber musician has collaborated with members of some of the country’s most exciting ensembles, including the Cavani and Cleveland string quartets and the Cleveland, Detroit, Montreal, and Baltimore symphonies.

In addition to being a founder and cellist in the nuevo tango band the Oblivion Project, he is the cellist of the Hastings Piano Trio and a board member of the Cleveland Cello Society.

His arrangements of the music of Graham Nash and Bootsy Collins have been performed by the Contemporary Youth Orchestra with the composer. He has created numerous transcriptions and arrangements for cello ensembles, focusing primarily on the music of Dave Brubeck and Astor Piazzolla. His arrangements of music by Brubeck can be heard on the Naxos label as preformed by the Yale Cellos and are published by Cellocelli Music. www.cellocelli.com

Derek’s principal teachers have been Tanya Carey, Erling Blondal Bengtsson, Laurence Lesser, and Colin Carr. Derek is a member of the Suzuki faculty at the Cleveland Music School Settlement and also teaches privately in Cleveland Heights, OH.