Harrell, Lynn (Morris)

Harrell, Lynn (Morris), outstanding American cellist, conductor, and teacher, son of Mack Harrell; b. N.Y., Jan. 30, 1944. He studied at the Juilliard School of Music in N.Y. with Leonard Rose and at the Curtis Inst. of Music in Philadelphia with Orlando Cole. He also attended master classes given by Gregor Piatigorsky in Dallas (1962) and Pablo Casals in Marlboro, Vt. (1963). In 1961 he made his debut as a soloist at a N.Y. Phil. young peoples’ concert. From 1964 to 1971 he was 1^st cellist of the Cleveland Orch. In 1971 he made his N.Y. recital debut, followed by his European debut in 1974. From 1971 to 1976 he taught at the Univ. of Cincinnati Coll.-Cons. of Music. With Murray Perahia, he shared the first Avery Fisher Prize in 1975. In succeeding years, he toured throughout the world as a soloist with orchs., as a recitalist, and as a chamber music artist. In 1986 he held the International Chair of Cello Studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London. From 1987 to 1993 he served as the Gregor Piatigorsky Prof. of Cello at the Univ. of Southern Calif. in Los Angeles, and he also was artistic director of the Los Angeles Phil. Inst. from 1988 to 1991. He was principal of the Royal Academy of Music from 1993 to 1995. As a cellist, Harrell’s playing is marked by ingratiating tonal mellowness and a facile, unforced technical display. His artistry won him Grammy Awards in 1981, 1987, and 1988. He has also made appearances as a conductor.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire