Contact
630-303-0235
jake@jakemuzzy.com
Video
Biography
Jake Muzzy (cello) is described as having a "vibrant, decorous style”, "timbre...velvety”, and a "gutsy sound” (Memphis Commercial Appeal); tone that is "rich, warm and vibrant", playing that is "both absorbing and stylistic" and performing "with color, thoughtfulness, elegance" (Sarasota Observer). He has performed across the US and Europe, in China, the UK and Argentina, and as soloist with the Memphis Symphony, the Sarasota Orchestra, and the Orquesta Filarmónica de Honduras, among others. He won distinction in competitions such as the Masterworks Festival Concerto Competition, the National Federation of Music Clubs Student Auditions and the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. He studied with Carol Ourada in Wheaton and Hans Jorgen Jensen at Northwestern University before taking his Masters from the Cleveland Institute of Music with Stephen Geber. His positions have included Principal Cellist of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, faculty at the Wheaton College Conservatory, and acting principal of the Sarasota Orchestra. He also performs with his wife Hannah (harp). They have eight children.
Reviews
Haydn’s C Major Cello Concerto performed by Jake Muzzy. [R]ich, warm and vibrant ... [a] performance both absorbing and stylistic.
[F]eatured cellist Jake Muzzy […] played … with color, thoughtfulness, elegance and the kind of musicality that comes only from true musicians.
[T]he cello solo (beautifully performed by acting principal Jake Muzzy) . . .
[P]layed with stately elegance by the principal cello...outstanding among the outstanding players were...cellist Jake Muzzy...
Memphis Commercial Appeal:
[A]s soloist in Franz Joseph Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 2 in D Major...Muzzy presented a vibrant, decorous style all his own...timbre...velvety...[a] gutsy sound that conveyed a heated sense of passion.
Resume
Orchestral Experience:
Sarasota Orchestra, Acting Principal.
Camerata Chicago.
Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Principal.
Civic Orchestra of Chicago, performed under Daniel Barenboim, Mistislav Rostropovich,
Pierre Boulez, and Pinchas Zukerman.
National Repertory Orchestra
Cleveland Institute of Music Symphony Orchestra, principal.
Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra.
Northwestern University Chamber Orchestra, principal.
Masterworks Festival Orchestra, principal.
Texas Music Festival, principal.
Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts, principal.
Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Youth Symphony of DuPage, principal.
Faculty Positions Held:
Cello Faculty, Wheaton College Conservatory of Music.
Cello Faculty, Masterworks Festival. 2005 Masterworks Festival Europe.
Cello Faculty, Founder, Director, Faith Community School of the Arts.
Education:
Master of Music, The Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Stephen Geber.
Bachelor of Arts, Excelsior College.
Student of Hans Jørgen Jensen, Northwestern University.
Three months study in Moscow, Russia with Vladimir Norr from the Moscow Conservatory.
Student of Carol Ourada, Wheaton College Suzuki Program.
Teacher Training with Tanya Carey.
Various master classes, lessons, and chamber music classes with William Preucil, Janos Starker, Arnold
Steinhardt, Anne Martindale Williams, Peter Slowik, Peter Salaff, Paul Katz, Timothy Eddy, Ronald
Copes, Bryan Dumm, Alan Harrel. Sectionals with John Sharp, Stephen Balderston, Richard Weiss.
Solo Performances with Orchestra:
Sarasota Orchestra, Concerto in C major by J. Haydn.
Orquesta Filarmónica de Honduras, Variations on a Roccoco Theme by P. Tchaikovsky.
Masterworks Philharmonic Orchestra, Sinfonia Concertante by J. Haydn
Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Concerto in D major by J. Haydn.
Northwestern Philharmonic Orchestra, Concerto in C major by J. Haydn.
Masterworks Festival Orchestra, Variations on a Roccoco Theme by P. Tchaikovsky.
Competitions:
Masterworks Festival Concerto Competition, First place
National Federation of Music Clubs Student Auditions, First place (national award)
Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, junior division, Second place
Youth Symphony of DuPage Concerto Competition, First place
Glen Ellyn Musician’s Club, First place
Other Performances:
Recitals with the Sarasota String Quartet. European tour with Camerata Chicago in Paris, Prague etc. With the Masterworks Ensemble in Beijing, China. With 51 Strings, a Duo for Harp and Cello; tour of Cordoba, Argentina, and concertizing across the U.S.
Summer Festivals:
Meadowmount; performed Bach’s 6th Suite and Schubert’s B flat Piano Trio. CREDO
Fellowship. Masterworks Festival. Texas Music Festival.
Sarasota Orchestra, Acting Principal.
Camerata Chicago.
Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Principal.
Civic Orchestra of Chicago, performed under Daniel Barenboim, Mistislav Rostropovich,
Pierre Boulez, and Pinchas Zukerman.
National Repertory Orchestra
Cleveland Institute of Music Symphony Orchestra, principal.
Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra.
Northwestern University Chamber Orchestra, principal.
Masterworks Festival Orchestra, principal.
Texas Music Festival, principal.
Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts, principal.
Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Youth Symphony of DuPage, principal.
Faculty Positions Held:
Cello Faculty, Wheaton College Conservatory of Music.
Cello Faculty, Masterworks Festival. 2005 Masterworks Festival Europe.
Cello Faculty, Founder, Director, Faith Community School of the Arts.
Education:
Master of Music, The Cleveland Institute of Music, student of Stephen Geber.
Bachelor of Arts, Excelsior College.
Student of Hans Jørgen Jensen, Northwestern University.
Three months study in Moscow, Russia with Vladimir Norr from the Moscow Conservatory.
Student of Carol Ourada, Wheaton College Suzuki Program.
Teacher Training with Tanya Carey.
Various master classes, lessons, and chamber music classes with William Preucil, Janos Starker, Arnold
Steinhardt, Anne Martindale Williams, Peter Slowik, Peter Salaff, Paul Katz, Timothy Eddy, Ronald
Copes, Bryan Dumm, Alan Harrel. Sectionals with John Sharp, Stephen Balderston, Richard Weiss.
Solo Performances with Orchestra:
Sarasota Orchestra, Concerto in C major by J. Haydn.
Orquesta Filarmónica de Honduras, Variations on a Roccoco Theme by P. Tchaikovsky.
Masterworks Philharmonic Orchestra, Sinfonia Concertante by J. Haydn
Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Concerto in D major by J. Haydn.
Northwestern Philharmonic Orchestra, Concerto in C major by J. Haydn.
Masterworks Festival Orchestra, Variations on a Roccoco Theme by P. Tchaikovsky.
Competitions:
Masterworks Festival Concerto Competition, First place
National Federation of Music Clubs Student Auditions, First place (national award)
Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, junior division, Second place
Youth Symphony of DuPage Concerto Competition, First place
Glen Ellyn Musician’s Club, First place
Other Performances:
Recitals with the Sarasota String Quartet. European tour with Camerata Chicago in Paris, Prague etc. With the Masterworks Ensemble in Beijing, China. With 51 Strings, a Duo for Harp and Cello; tour of Cordoba, Argentina, and concertizing across the U.S.
Summer Festivals:
Meadowmount; performed Bach’s 6th Suite and Schubert’s B flat Piano Trio. CREDO
Fellowship. Masterworks Festival. Texas Music Festival.