CELLIST
“Baroque cellist Esther Back beautifully interprets the literature with a passion and expressiveness that is wholly accessible to modern ears yet entirely authentic, learned, and respectful of the sources” (Dirk Tenbrook)
Esther Back is an acclaimed cellist known not only for her solo, orchestral, and chamber performances but also as an avid educator and outreach advocate. A pupil of world-renowned Baroque cellist and viol player Jaap ter Linden, Back studied at Frankfurt University at the age of eleven and came to America years later. She has studied with Peter Stumpf (faculty at Indiana University), Ben Hong, Ronald Leonard (former Principal Cellist of Los Angeles Philharmonic), Bernard Greenhouse, and Eleonore Schoenfeld.
Despite her comparatively recent commitment to early music performance, she already has established a reputation for it. Recently, Ms. Back received an invitation to perform as Baroque cellist with “Southern California’s most important early music ensemble” (LA Times), Musica Angelica, at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and she also participated in prestigious Baroque workshops held by Toronto’s Tafelmusik and Oberlin College (Baroque Performance Institute).
ABOUT
Esther Back started her professional orchestral career in 2007, winning positions as Cellist with the San Bernardino Symphony and the American Youth Symphony; she also was a finalist for the Assistant Cello position with the Redlands Symphony. She has served as the Principal Cellist for the Orange County Symphony, Orange Coast College Symphony, La Mirada Symphony, University of Redlands Orchestra, Summit Music Festival Symphony, Texas Music Festival Symphony, and Cal State Fullerton
Symphony. She has also performed with the Burbank Philharmonic, Torrance Symphony, and Downey Symphony, and has experience as a recording studio musician.
She also has collaborated in concerto performances, chamber music, and orchestral symphonies with renowned artists such as Lynn Harrell, Bernard Greenhouse, Robert Watson, and Alexander Treger. Her several solo appearances in concertos and concert pieces have included works by Dvořák, Schumann, Prokofiev, Vivaldi, and Paganini.
TEACHING
As an avid teacher, Ms. Back serves as a faculty member at CSU/San Bernardino and has a large private studio; her students have won top awards at various music competitions: soloist opportunities with professional orchestras and invitations to regularly perform at prestigious venues.
Ms. Back was awarded a certificate of recognition from Carnegie Hall for her extraordinary dedication to achievement in music teaching and for having her students selected to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York.
Moreover, her students have won first and third prizes at the American Protégé International Music Competition, first and third awards at the Grand Virtuoso International Competition, first place in US International Music Competition, and first prizes (three students) at the Pelican International Music Competition.
DIRECTOR
In addition, she is the founder, artistic director, and conductor of the Cal State San Bernardino Cello Ensemble. Under her numerous years of direction, the Orange County Cello Ensemble (OCCE – which she also founded – performed live on 88.9 KUCI frequently, as well as at Walt Disney Hall and prestigious venues in France. Back also produced the professional CD album, “Miracle of the Cellos.”
AWARDS
Esther Back won numerous awards, including Grand Prizes in the Concerto Competitions at both the University of Redlands School of Music and at CSU/Fullerton. She was the Grand Prize winner of the American String Teachers Association Greater Los Angeles Finals in 2004. In South Korea, she was awarded first place in the Kang Won State Annual Competition and the Music Journal Competition.
SHOWS
EVENT 12/2/22
Beethoven Cello Sonata Recital with fortepianist Melody Lin
Claremont Graduate University, CA, U.S.A.
EVENT 11/30/22
Lecture: Bach´s Fifth Cello Suite – Performance Practice Issues
California State University Fullerton, U.S.A.
TBD – Baroque Cello Recital
Baroque Cello Recital with harpsichordist Dr. Robert Zappulla
California State University San Bernardino, U.S.A.
EVENT 10/12/22
Lecture: Bach’s Fifth Cello Suite—Performance Practice Issues
California State University Fullerton, U.S.A.
EVENT 9/1/22
Lecture: Baroque vs. Romantic Style
Early Music Ensemble, California State University San Bernardino, U.S.A.
EVENT 7/9-24
Chamber Music Institute of Southern California as a faculty
Placentia, California, U.S.A.
EVENT 7/7
Baroque Cello Solo Recital feat. works by Gabrielli, J.S. Bach, F. Geminiani
Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum, Yorba Linda, California, U.S.A.
EVENT 7/5
Bach’s Cello Fifth Suite Recording Project
EVENT 7/2
Baroque Chamber Music Concert as a Baroque cellist and violist da gamba
Baroque Performance Institute, Oberlin Conservatory, Cleveland, U.S.A.
EVENT 6/28
Redlands Symphony Concert as a cellist (modern)
Memorial Chapel, Redlands, California, U.S.A.
EVENT 6/25-26
J.S. Bach’s Mass in B minor as a Baroque cellist of Musica Angelica
Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, U.S.A.
EVENT 6/15
Heritage Choir Concert as a cellist (modern)
Anaheim Church, Anaheim, California, U.S.A.
EVENT 5/14
San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra Concert as a cellist (modern)
San Bernardino, California, U.S.A.
EVENT 4/29
Lecture Recital on J.S. Bach’s Fifth Cello Suite
Art Gallery, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California, U.S.A.
EVENT 4/19
Baroque Solo Concert on J.S. Bach Suites
Poetry Event, Claremont, California, U.S.A.
EVENT 4/9
Junior Chamber Music Faculty Concert, Beethoven Cello Sonata with pianist, Dr.Wen-Ting Huang
Irvine Valley College Performing Concert Hall, Irvine, California, U.S.A.
EVENT 4/7
Board of Trustee Performances on J.S. Bach’s Third and Fourth Suites
Albrecht Auditorium, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California, U.S.A.
EVENT 3/12
San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra Concert as a cellist (modern)
California Theatre, San Bernardino, California, U.S.A.
EVENT 3/23
Bach’s Cello Third Suite Video Recording Project
St. Andrew Church, Pasadena, California, U.S.A.
EVENT 3/5
Composer, Sara Huff’s Recording Project as a cellist (modern)
BOOKING
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