Peter Stumpf (Cellist)
Encyclopedia
Peter Stumpf is the current principal cellist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
. He was educated first at the Curtis Institute of Music
and then the New England Conservatory. At age sixteen, he proceeded to start his professional career as a cellist in the Hartford Symphony. He then spent twelve years as associate principal of the Philadelphia Orchestra
before assuming his current position at the start of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's 2002/2003 season.
In addition to his position with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, he also serves as an avid chamber music
ian as the cellist of the Johannes String Quartet. He has also collaborated with numerous other musicians, including Emanuel Ax
, Wolfgang Sawallisch
, Mitsuko Uchida
, and the Emerson String Quartet
.
Stumpf is also well-known as a cello teacher, having taught at the New England Conservatory in addition to his current post at the USC Thornton School of Music
.
on loan to him from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, was stolen
after he left it on his porch. It was discovered in a dumpster by Melanie Stevens, a 30 year old nurse, after a home surveillance video from across the street showed the cello being lifted by a clumsy thief on a bicycle at around 6:30 am. Stevens initially asked her boyfriend to turn it into a CD cabinet
, though a week and a half later she caught a news report about the missing cello and the $50,000 reward for its return. She identified it on the police website and sought to return it, with the aid of a lawyer.
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
. He was educated first at the Curtis Institute of Music
Curtis Institute of Music
The Curtis Institute of Music is a conservatory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that offers courses of study leading to a performance Diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in Opera, and Professional Studies Certificate in Opera. According to statistics compiled by U.S...
and then the New England Conservatory. At age sixteen, he proceeded to start his professional career as a cellist in the Hartford Symphony. He then spent twelve years as associate principal of the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
before assuming his current position at the start of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's 2002/2003 season.
In addition to his position with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, he also serves as an avid 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...
ian as the cellist of the Johannes String Quartet. He has also collaborated with numerous other musicians, including Emanuel Ax
Emanuel Ax
Emanuel Ax is a Grammy-winning American classical pianist. He is currently a teacher on the faculty of the Juilliard School. He is considered one of the best known concert pianists of the 21st century.-Early life:...
, Wolfgang Sawallisch
Wolfgang Sawallisch
Wolfgang Sawallisch is a retired German conductor and pianist.-Biography:Sawallisch was born in Munich, and studied composition and pianoforte there privately: at the conclusion of the war, in 1946 he continued his studies at the Munich High School for Music and passed his final examination for...
, Mitsuko Uchida
Mitsuko Uchida
, born 20 December 1948, is a Japanese naturalized British classical pianist.-Career:Born in Atami, a seaside town close to Tokyo, Japan, Uchida moved to Vienna, Austria, with her diplomat parents when she was twelve years old, after her father was named the Japanese ambassador to Austria...
, and the Emerson String Quartet
Emerson String Quartet
The Emerson String Quartet is a New York–based string quartet in residence at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Previously the Quartet was in residence at The Hartt School. Formed in 1976, they have released more than twenty albums and won nine Grammy Awards. Both violinists...
.
Stumpf is also well-known as a cello teacher, having taught at the New England Conservatory in addition to his current post at the USC Thornton School of Music
USC Thornton School of Music
The University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, founded in 1884 and dedicated in 1999, is one of the premier music schools in the United States...
.
Stolen Cello
On April 27, 2004, the General Kyd, a $3.5 million StradivariusStradivarius
The name Stradivarius is associated with violins built by members of the Stradivari family, particularly Antonio Stradivari. According to their reputation, the quality of their sound has defied attempts to explain or reproduce, though this belief is controversial...
on loan to him from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, was stolen
Stolen
Stolen may refer to:* "Stolen" , 2008* "Stolen" , 2006* Stolen , a 2005 stealth-based video* Stolen , a 1998 Australian play by Jane Harrison...
after he left it on his porch. It was discovered in a dumpster by Melanie Stevens, a 30 year old nurse, after a home surveillance video from across the street showed the cello being lifted by a clumsy thief on a bicycle at around 6:30 am. Stevens initially asked her boyfriend to turn it into a CD cabinet
Cabinet (furniture)
A cabinet is usually a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors or drawers for storing miscellaneous items. Some cabinets stand alone while others are built into a wall or are attached to it like a medicine cabinet. Cabinets are typically made of wood or, now increasingly, of synthetic...
, though a week and a half later she caught a news report about the missing cello and the $50,000 reward for its return. She identified it on the police website and sought to return it, with the aid of a lawyer.