Professor of Cello and Chamber Music

Prof. Paul Olefsky was awarded first prize of the prestigious Naumburg and Michael Memorial International Solo Competitions. He matriculated from the classes of legendary greats Piatigorsky and Casals. As the youngest principal cellist in the history of the Philadelphia Orchestra, he appeared as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra in Carnegie Hall under Maestro Ormandy. He has collaborated with such composers as Ginastera; Kodaly; Milhaud; Shapleigh; Thompson; Tcherepnin etc. He was on the jury panels of the Piatigorsky International Solo Competition (Violoncello Society of New York), and Interlochen International Solo Competition (General Motor & Seventeen Magazine). He also presented a Feuermann lecture at the 2nd International Cello Festival in Kronberg, Germany.

"Unquestionably, one of the finest cellist before the public today"
---- New York Times (concert review from one of Olefsky's solo appearence in Carnegie Hall)

Douglas Harvey won the International Master Class audition for the 3rd World Cello Congress on April 20th. After recent winning the first prize ($5,000 plus solo appearance with the Flint, MI, Symphony Orchestra) in the distinguished Byrd Flint International Solo Competition in March, Douglas Harvey also received the Kingsville International Young Artist Solo Competition Special Bach Prize and Second String Prize (top cello) Award of $1,000 in April.

Douglas Harvey has been studying with Prof. Olefsky since age 13. He has won first prize of the Idyllwild-California International Young Artist's Competition and Corpus Christi International Young Artist's Competition. He also received the special Bach solo prize in the Corpus Christi Competition. He was invited to perform in the Master Class at the Leonard Rose memorial Cello Festival this past summer.

• J.Sant Ambrogio first cellist, St. Louis Symphony
• H. Clark solo cello and recording artist for Musical Heritage Society
• Valter Despalj internationally renowned concert cellist from Zagreb, Croatia, and a Tschaikovsky International Competition Judge
• S. Gates professor of cello, University of Arkanses
• S. Goh professor of cello, University of Singapore
• C. Hopkins associate first cellist, Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, Switzerland
• Sarah Nelson cellist, Tosca Quartet and Tango Band
• D. Levin cellist, Dallas Symphony
• Michael Lipman cellist, Pittsburgh Symphony
• L. Lowenstein cellist, Pittsburgh Symphony
• D. Morganstern first cellist, Chicago Lyric Opera and American Ballet
• L. Owens professor, Aldelphi University
• Fred Raimi cellist, Ciompi Quartet/Duke University
• Michal Raizen cellist, Divahn Quartet-Best Band of 2001 by Austin Chronicle
• D.Sabee first cellist, New York City Center Orchestra(touring) and cellist with the Seattle Symphony
• S. Sanders former first cellist of the Austin Symphony, and Trio in Residence in Bankok
• K. Slavett professor, American School in London, England
• Matt Slocum recording artist with "Sixpence None the Richer"
• Margaret Coltman-Smith faculty member of the Austin chamber Music Center and founder of the Arundel Ensemble
• F. Steiner cellist/conductor, University of California
• T. Stogner first cellist, Austin Lyric Opera
• J. Swain professor, Emporia State University, Kansasa
• P. Warner cellist, Atalanta Symphony
• J. Yannatos professor, Harvard University
• Hai Zheng recording artist with the English Chamber Orchstra and professor at Southwestern University