cellist

A cellist is a musician who plays the cello, a bass-range, tenor-lower pitched string instrument held between the knees and played with a bow or plucked. Cellists perform as soloists, in chamber ensembles, and as members of orchestras. Professional training usually occurs in conservatories or universities and emphasizes technique, intonation, musical interpretation, and repertoire knowledge.

The cello is tuned in perfect fourths, C–G–D–A, and is held on the floor with an endpin. The left hand presses strings to shorten vibrating lengths, producing different pitches, while the right hand draws the bow across strings for sustained tones or employs pizzicato. Common techniques include vibrato, various bow strokes, and shifting for high positions.

Cellists participate in a wide range of roles: solo recitalists, standard in orchestral sections, and key chamber musicians in piano trios, string quartets, and larger ensembles. The repertoire spans from Baroque concertos and suites, such as Bach’s cello suites, to Romantic and modern concertos and contemporary works.

Prominent cellists include Pablo Casals, Mstislav Rostropovich, Jacqueline du Pré, Yo-Yo Ma, and Gautier Capuçon, who also contribute as educators and recording artists. The profession also encompasses pedagogy, with many cellists teaching at conservatories, universities, and master classes to train new generations.