Eugene Friesen

A graduate of the Yale School of Music where he studied with Brazilian cellist Aldo Parisot, Eugene Friesen is active internationally as a concert artist, composer, conductor and teacher. In 1995, 2006 and 2008 Eugene won a Grammy Award for musical contributions to three Paul Winter Consort albums, “Spanish Angel,” “Silver Solstice” and “Crestone.” He has worked and recorded with such diverse artists as Dave Brubeck, Toots Thielemans, Betty Buckley, Will Ackerman, Joe Lovano and Dream Theater.

Eugene's passion for the responsive flow of improvisatory music has been featured in concerts all over the world with the Paul Winter Consort and with Trio Globo (Friesen, Howard Levy and Glen Velez). He has performed as a soloist at the International Cello Festival in Manchester, England; Rencontres d'Ensembles de Violoncelles in Beauvais, France; the World Cello Congress in Baltimore, Maryland; and the Rio International Cello Encounter in Rio de Janeiro.

A pioneer in the teaching of improvisation techniques to classically trained musicians, Eugene has led workshops throughout North America and around the world. His upcoming book, Improvisational Strategies for Classically Trained Musicians, will be published in the fall of 2011.

A love for children and music education led Eugene to create his popular program for young audiences. CelloMan has been performed in schools, theaters and festivals worldwide.

2010 ushered in three new Eugene Friesen CDs:  Colorful Transitions,a collection of jazz, Brazilian and originals with Lyle Lovett’s pianist Tim Ray; Trio Globo’s Steering By the Stars; and Love Songs of the Americas, an emotionally eloquent collection of songs in Spanish, Portuguese and English featuring Mili Bermejo, Tim Ray, Dan Greenspan and the Berklee World Strings.

Eugene is an artist-in-residence at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, and on the faculty of the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He lives in Vermont with his wife, Wendy, and four children.

More information on Eugene can be found online at: http://www.eugenefriesenmusic.com