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Aaron Minsky Bio
Aaron Minsky has been a pioneer and leader in bringing the cello (and
all strings) into acceptance in popular music through composing,
performing, teaching, and advocating. His over a dozen books of
original string music, published by Oxford University Press, have
become standard repertoire. His pieces combine popular styles with
classical composing technique, the most famous being "Ten American
Cello Etudes". His music is in the curriculums of the Associated
Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), U.K., and the American
String Teachers' Association (ASTA). A milestone in his quest to bring
the cello into the world of rock was the publication of his solo cello
suite "Dead Cello" based on the music of the Grateful Dead (Latham
Music). A songwriter at heart Minsky has also written a musical and
several theater and movie scores. Due to the international performances
of his music he regularly receives grants from ASCAP. Minsky is
included in Who's Who in America and the International Who's Who. He is
a Yamaha Artist and D'Addario Artist. Under the name Von Cello, he has
released several rock cello CDs and performed live and on television
and radio doing interviews with Associated Press, Good Day New York,
and FOX and Friends. Von Cello has performed with many famous artists
including David Bowie, The Plasmatics, and Tony Bennett. For more
information go to his extensive website: http://www.voncello.com
Von Cello Bio
"Shooting stars" would describe most rock stars: they flash
across the musical landscape, then quickly burn out. The revolutionary,
the one who changes the course of music, is the one who remains like a
fixed luminary in the heavens. Jimi Hendrix revolutionized the guitar,
Ian Anderson revolutionized the flute, and Von Cello revolutionized the
cello.
In his early teens Aaron
Minsky was already a famous rock guitarist and singer/songwriter in the
populated New York City neighborhood of his youth. Suddenly at the age
of 15 he stunned his friends and fans: he quit his band, cut his hair,
and started practicing the cello day and night. Few could understand
his disappearance from the popular music scene, but Aaron had a vision:
he would bring the dignified yet overlooked cello into center stage. He
would teach the cello to rock! Thus he became known as Von Cello.
A student of music history, Von Cello realized that a true
revolutionary must first master the tradition he hopes to
revolutionize, so he began studying with the finest cello teachers from
Juilliard and elsewhere, obtaining a Master of Music degree from
Manhattan School of Music. Then came the years of establishing himself
as a respected classical musician: premiering his original music at the
First World Cello Congress and the New Directions Cello Festival,
performing in top orchestras on two continents, concertizing in
Carnegie Hall, on radio and television, giving interviews on major news
networks including Reuters, Associated Press, and FOX, performing for
presidents, senators, and other VIP's.
Expanding on his award winning song writing ability, he composed over a
dozen music books published by Oxford University Press. With thousands
of copies sold, excellent reviews, and the praise of many famous
musicians, these books have started a revolution in string playing.
They are now considered standard repertoire, even appearing in the
curriculums of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music,
U.K., and the American String Teacher's Association. The international
performances of Aaron's music are tracked by ASCAP, of which he is an
award winning member.
Finally in the position to live his dream, Aaron founded the Von Cello
Band, the first cello fronted rock-power-trio in history! The band has
made several CDs and has delighted audiences around the country with
their blend of hard, alternative, and jam rock. Internationally known,
they have received radio play as far away as Siberia. Aaron has also
performed with notable rock artists including David Bowie, and the
Plasmatics.
Von Cello has made music history by being the first person to bring the
music of the Grateful Dead into the classical arena. Dead Cello, his solo cello suite based on the music of the Grateful Dead published by Latham Music, has received performances around the world.
Recognizing his rising fame, Yamaha Corporation invited Von Cello to
become a Yamaha Artist. D'Addario Strings quickly followed suit. All of
this acclaim has led to Aaron's inclusion in Who's Who in America and
the International Who's Who!
There are famous classical musicians who occasionally "cross
over" to pop, but there has never been a rock artist who crossed
over to classical, gained respect, and then came back!
That is until
- Von Cello!
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