Photo credit: Charles Noble
Oregon Symphony cellist Adam Esbensen, a native of Corvallis, and a member of the Oregon Symphony since 2004 (he’s also the cellist with local new music ensemble fEARnoMUSIC), has won what is considered the Holy Grail of orchestral jobs, a position in a Big Five orchestra, in this case the Boston Symphony!
Many fond congratulations to Adam – it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy!
Here’s his bio:
Adam is a native of Corvallis and began his studies there with Peg Varvel. Other Oregonian teachers include Donna Moore, Bruce McIntosh and Hamilton Cheifetz.
While at Crescent Valley High School, he played in the Corvallis Youth Symphony, spent summers at the Interlochen Arts Camp and soloed with the Oregon Symphony.
His college career began at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied with the principal of the Cleveland Orchestra, Stephen Geber. During his four years in Cleveland, Adam was a member of the Canton Symphony Orchestra and enjoyed chamber music opportunities at the ENCORE School for Strings, Blossom Music Festival and Taos School of Music.
After graduation, he moved to New York where he studied with Timothy Eddy at the Mannes College of Music. There he played in the Baroque Chamber Players and gave recitals in the Chopin and Bach Festivals. After graduation and a summer in Italy at the Spoleto Music Festival, Adam moved to Los Angeles and worked as a freelance musician.
In 2003, Adam joined the Oregon Symphony following two years with the Louisville Orchestra. He is also a member of The American Sinfonietta and an active participant in the Oregon chamber music scene.