Lynn Harrell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lynn Harrell |
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| Background information | |
| Born | January 30, 1944 Manhattan, New York, US |
| Died | April 27, 2020 (aged 76) Santa Monica, California, US |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | International Chair for Cello Studies at the Royal Academy of Music Principal of the Royal Academy |
| Instruments | Cello |
Lynn Harrell (born January 30, 1944 – died April 27, 2020) was a famous American classical cellist. He was known for the deep, rich sound of his cello. Harrell played all over the world. He performed as a solo artist, with small groups, and with big orchestras for almost 60 years. He won the first-ever Avery Fisher Prize and two Grammy Awards. He also taught music at many schools, including the Juilliard School and the Royal Academy of Music.
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Biography
Early life and musical beginnings
Lynn Harrell was born in Manhattan, New York City, on January 30, 1944. Both of his parents were musicians. His father, Mack Harrell, was a singer, and his mother, Marjorie Fulton, was a violinist.
Lynn started learning the cello when he was nine years old. When he was 12, his family moved to Dallas, Texas. There, he continued his cello studies with a teacher named Lev Aronson. His father taught at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. During the summers, Lynn often went to Colorado. His father helped start the Aspen Music Festival and School there.
After high school, Harrell studied at the Juilliard School in New York with Leonard Rose. He also studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia with Orlando Cole. In 1961, when he was 17, he played his first big concert at Carnegie Hall. He performed with the New York Philharmonic orchestra. This was part of a special concert series for young people.
Facing challenges
In 1960, when Lynn Harrell was 15, his father passed away. Two years later, in November 1962, his mother also died. She was in a car accident while traveling to perform a concert. Lynn was 18 years old at the time.
Just before his mother's death, in April 1962, Harrell left Denton High School. He did this to compete in the Second International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. He made it to the semifinals of this important music contest.
After losing both parents, Harrell moved around. He stayed with different family friends. He only had one suitcase and his cello. When he turned 18, he joined the Cleveland Orchestra. The conductor, George Szell, knew Lynn's father from working together. Lynn was the main cellist for the Cleveland Orchestra from 1964 to 1971.
Professional career and teaching
Lynn Harrell gave his first solo concert in New York in 1971. A year later, he played at a concert for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. A famous music critic from The New York Times praised his playing. He said it was "beautiful" and that Harrell had "everything" needed to be a great musician.
For the rest of his life, Harrell traveled the world to perform. He played solo, with chamber groups, and as a soloist with many orchestras. In 1971, he also started teaching at the University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music. He later taught at other famous schools. These included the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Juilliard School.
From 1988 to 1992, he was the Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute. He also held a special cello teaching position at the USC Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles. He was only the second person to hold this important job. From 2002 to 2009, he taught at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University.
Harrell played on several famous cellos during his career. He once owned a 1720 Montagnana cello. He also played a 1673 Antonio Stradivarius cello. This instrument had belonged to the famous British cellist Jacqueline du Pré. His last cello was made in 2008 by Christopher Dungey.
From 1985 to 1993, he was the International Chair for Cello Studies at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London. In 1993, he became the Principal of the RAM, a top leadership role. He held this position until 1995.
In 1994, Harrell performed at the Vatican. He played with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for a special event. This concert was the Holy See's first official event to remember the Holocaust. Pope John Paul II was in the audience.
In 2001, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra started a music competition in his honor. It is called the Lynn Harrell Concerto Competition. Young string players and pianists from ages 8 to 18 can enter. They must be from Texas and nearby states.
Death
Lynn Harrell passed away at his home in Santa Monica, California, on April 27, 2020. He was 76 years old. His wife said he died suddenly, likely from a stroke.
Personal life
Lynn Harrell had twin children, Kate and Eben, with his first wife, Linda Blandford. Kate is an actress and yoga teacher, and Eben is a journalist. Both live in London.
In 2002, he married violinist Helen Nightengale. She was a former student of his. They had two children, Hanna and Noah. Lynn and Helen also started an organization called HEARTbeats. This group helps children in need. It uses the power of music to help them deal with tough challenges like poverty and conflict.
Harrell often did not trust his valuable cello to airline baggage handlers. In 2012, he became well-known for a funny reason. Delta Air Lines removed him from their frequent-flier program. This happened because he had registered his cello as a frequent flyer named "Mr. Cello Harrell."
Awards
Lynn Harrell received many important awards for his musical talent:
- Piatigorsky Award
- Ford Foundation Concert Artists' Award
- The first-ever Avery Fisher Prize (which he shared with Murray Perahia)
- Grammy Awards for Best Chamber Music Performance:
- With Vladimir Ashkenazy and Itzhak Perlman for Beethoven: The Complete Piano Trios (in 1988)
- With Vladimir Ashkenazy and Itzhak Perlman for Tchaikovsky: Piano Trio in A minor (in 1982)
See also
In Spanish: Lynn Harrell para niños
