Mannfried by Kate Vrijmoet

Mannfried came to the Pacific Northwest as a member of the Seattle Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Seattle Opera. He has performed throughout U.S., Europe, Japan, South America, Middle East and the former Soviet Union and has held principal chairs with the National Symphony of Colombia, Orquesta Collegium Musicum (Bogota), Pacific Chamber Orchestra, Goodwill Games Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute (co-principal), Federal Way Symphony and Seattle Modern Orchestra.

The San Francisco native began playing the cello at the age of five at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.  His principal teachers have been reknowned soloist Zara Nelsova; Michael Grebanier, principal cellist San Francisco and Pittsburgh symphonies; Paul Olefsky, principal cellist Philadelphia Orchestra and Detroit Symphony; Barton Frank, principal cellist National Symphony Orchestra and New Orleans Symphony; Margaret Rowell, Ramy Shevelov, Robert Grant, and Jeff Holm.

Mannfried has won numerous awards from solo competition including the prestigious Pacific Musical Society award when he was 11, the Alameda Teachers award and the Don Bushell Competition in Seattle.  He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in cello performance and a master’s degree in music education.