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Samuel Pierce-Ruhland, cello

Samuel Pierce-Ruhland completed his master’s degree in 2016 at Mannes College of Music (New York City), where he studied with Timothy Eddy. His previous teachers include Steven Doane of the Eastman School of Music, Hans Jensen of Northwestern University, and Joseph Johnson, principal cello of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He has played in masterclasses given by János Starker, Lynn Harrell, Timothy Eddy, Colin Carr, Paul Watkins, Desmond Hoebig, Clive Greensmith, and Natasha Brofsky, as well as the Guarneri, Mendelssohn, and Pacifica string quartets. A dedicated orchestral musician, Samuel regularly appeared as principal cello in school and festival orchestras and was appointed to a one-year, full-time position in the Rochester Philharmonic for the 2013-14 season, following his graduation from Eastman. The 2016-17 season marked his first year as assistant principal cello of the Omaha Symphony Orchestra. He is also an enthusiastic chamber musician and has performed at festivals such as Yellow Barn, Sarasota, and Music Mountain. In the fall of 2015, he participated in a unique and multifaceted project in Germany involving performing and recording Olivier Messiaen’s Quatour pour la fin du temps (Quartet for the End of Time) with digital videographic accompaniment.