Andrei Pricope
Encyclopedia
Andrei Pricope is a cellist of Romania
n descent.
, Romania, and started playing the cello
and piano
at age ten, following in his father's footsteps (Eugen Pricope
was a conductor and musicologist). Following studies at the Enescu Music High School in Bucharest
, he went to England
, where he graduated with honors from the Royal Northern College of Music
in 1994.
(1996 and 1997, respectively) having studied with Marc Johnson of the Vermeer Quartet
. He appeared in masterclasses with János Starker
, Ralph Kirshbaum
, and Irene Sharp, among many others. Pricope was Principal Cello with the Chicago Civic Orchestra (training orchestra of the Chicago Symphony
), and has also served as guest principal cello for several American orchestras, including Green Bay Symphony, Rockford Symphony
and Southwest Michigan Symphony. In these capacities, he performed under such conductors as Daniel Barenboim
, Sir Georg Solti
, Zubin Mehta
, Christoph Eschenbach
, and Pierre Boulez
. As a chamber music
performer, Pricope has performed extensively, including with members of the Chicago Symphony on Chicago's WFMT
radio.
Pricope's cello transcriptions are published by Amati Music. They include Johann Sebastian Bach
's Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Cello (orig. for violin) and Johannes Brahms
' Violin and Viola Sonatas (arr. for cello). Amati Music also publishes reference works in cello pedagogy under Pricope's editorship, including Duport's Essai sur le doigté du violoncelle et la conduite de l'archet (1809) and Bernhard Romberg
's Violoncell-Schule (1840). Pricope has also written Cello Basics, a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the techniques of cello playing, with hundreds of practice routines for warm-up, maintenance, teaching, and reference (2006).
Pricope continues to teach strings (mostly cello
) in the Chicago
area.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n descent.
Early life and education
He grew up in BucharestBucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Romania, and started playing the cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
at age ten, following in his father's footsteps (Eugen Pricope
Eugen Pricope
Eugen Pricope was a Romanian conductor, music critic, and writer. He wrote such books as "Silvestri" Eugen Pricope (April 16, 1927-1992) was a Romanian conductor, music critic, and writer. He wrote such books as "Silvestri" Eugen Pricope (April 16, 1927-1992) was a Romanian conductor, music...
was a conductor and musicologist). Following studies at the Enescu Music High School in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, he went to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where he graduated with honors from the Royal Northern College of Music
Royal Northern College of Music
The Royal Northern College of Music is a music school in Manchester, England. It is located on Oxford Road in Chorlton on Medlock, at the western edge of the campus of the University of Manchester and is one of four conservatories associated with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music...
in 1994.
Musical activity in Illinois
Pricope received his Masters of Music and Performer Certificate from Northern Illinois UniversityNorthern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
(1996 and 1997, respectively) having studied with Marc Johnson of the Vermeer Quartet
Vermeer Quartet
The Vermeer Quartet was a string quartet founded in 1969 at the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont and active until 2007.With performances in practically every major city in North and South America, Europe, the Far East, and Australia, the Vermeer Quartet achieved an international stature as one of...
. He appeared in masterclasses with János Starker
János Starker
János Starker |Kingdom of Hungary]]) is a Hungarian-American cellist. Since 1958 he has taught at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he holds the title of Distinguished Professor.- Child prodigy :...
, Ralph Kirshbaum
Ralph Kirshbaum
Ralph Henry Kirshbaum is an American cellist currently living in Los Angeles. During his career he has performed solos with major orchestras worldwide, won prizes in several international competitions, and recorded extensively....
, and Irene Sharp, among many others. Pricope was Principal Cello with the Chicago Civic Orchestra (training orchestra of the Chicago Symphony
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
), and has also served as guest principal cello for several American orchestras, including Green Bay Symphony, Rockford Symphony
Rockford Symphony Orchestra
The Rockford Symphony Orchestra is a symphony orchestra in Rockford, Illinois, USA.-History:The Rockford Symphony Orchestra, incorporated in 1943, began performing concerts in 1934 under the direction of Arthur Zack. He continued to lead the orchestra as Music Director and Manager until...
and Southwest Michigan Symphony. In these capacities, he performed under such conductors as Daniel Barenboim
Daniel Barenboim
Daniel Barenboim, KBE is an Argentinian-Israeli pianist and conductor. He has served as music director of several major symphonic and operatic orchestras and made numerous recordings....
, Sir Georg Solti
Georg Solti
Sir Georg Solti, KBE, was a Hungarian-British orchestral and operatic conductor. He was a major classical recording artist, holding the record for having received the most Grammy Awards, having personally won 31 as a conductor, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition to his...
, Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta is an Indian conductor of western classical music. He is the Music Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.-Biography:...
, Christoph Eschenbach
Christoph Eschenbach
Christoph Eschenbach , born February 20, 1940, Breslau, Germany is a German-born pianist and conductor. He currently holds positions in Washington, D.C. as music director of the National Symphony Orchestra and music director of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.-Early...
, and Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
. As a chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
performer, Pricope has performed extensively, including with members of the Chicago Symphony on Chicago's WFMT
WFMT
WFMT is an FM radio station in Chicago, Illinois, featuring a format of fine arts, classical music programming, and shows exploring such genres as folk and jazz). The station is managed by Window To The World Communications, Inc., owner of WTTW, one of Chicago's two Public Broadcasting Service ...
radio.
Pricope's cello transcriptions are published by Amati Music. They include Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
's Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Cello (orig. for violin) and Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
' Violin and Viola Sonatas (arr. for cello). Amati Music also publishes reference works in cello pedagogy under Pricope's editorship, including Duport's Essai sur le doigté du violoncelle et la conduite de l'archet (1809) and Bernhard Romberg
Bernhard Romberg
Bernhard Heinrich Romberg , was a German cellist and composer.-Life:Romberg was born at Dinklage. His father, Anton Romberg, played the bassoon and cello and gave Bernhard his first cello lessons. He first performed in public at the age of seven...
's Violoncell-Schule (1840). Pricope has also written Cello Basics, a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the techniques of cello playing, with hundreds of practice routines for warm-up, maintenance, teaching, and reference (2006).
Pricope continues to teach strings (mostly cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
) in the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
area.