Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic have announced the appointment of Peter Stumpf to the post of Principal Cello. Stumpf has served as Associate Principal Cellist of the Philadelphia Orchestra for the past 12 years, and he joins the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the opening of the 2002/2003 season.
"We are delighted to welcome Peter Stumpf to the Los Angeles Philharmonic as he joins us from another institution of great traditions…the Philadelphia Orchestra. He is a musician of real depth and brings an enormous range of musical experience to his new position," said Deborah Borda, Philharmonic Managing Director.
"I am so pleased to have the opportunity to play as Principal. It's a thrill to be able to work with Esa-Pekka Salonen and this great orchestra," said Peter Stumpf.
A dedicated chamber musician and member of the Johannes Quartet, Stumpf is a frequent participant at the Marlboro Music Festival. As a member of the Casals Hall Ensemble he has toured Japan, and has toured in the U.S. with pianist Mitsuko Uchida in performances of the complete Mozart Trios. He has also performed with the Emerson String Quartet.
Stumpf has given recitals at the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., at Jordan Hall in Boston, and at the universities of Hartford and Delaware. In January 1999 he performed the complete works of Beethoven for cello and piano on the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society Series, where he was a resident artist. He has also appeared as soloist with many orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Boston Philharmonic; at the Aspen Music Festival; and most recently with the National Repertory Orchestra and the Virginia Symphony.
Trained at The Curtis Institute and the New England Conservatory, Peter Stumpf was awarded first prizes at the Washington International Competition, the Graham-Stahl Competition, and the Aspen Concerto Competition, and began his orchestral career at the age of 16 with the Hartford Symphony. He also served on the cello faculty of the New England Conservatory of Music.
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Elizabeth Hinckley, (323) 850-2047; Rachelle Roe, (323) 850-2032