A “cellist of uncommon gifts” (San Diego Union Tribune), Peter Ko is a San Diego based cellist, whose projects have taken him across North America and Europe, through the Ojai Festival, Darmstädter Ferienkurse, the Next Festival of Emerging Artists, Neofonía Festival de Música Nueva Ensenada, ChatterABQ, and CNMAT@Berkeley. Peter’s work in new music has included close collaboration with composers such as Roger Reynolds, Adam Zuckerman, Douglas Osmun and Anqi Liu in the creation and premiere of new solo cello works–recent performances include the world premiere of the octet realization of La Monte Young’s Chronos Kristalla, Adam Schoenberg’s concerto Automation with the La Jolla Symphony, and the US premiere of Roger Reynold’s Persistence for solo cello and electronics.
Photo by Samuel Alejandro Lazo Garcia
Peter currently serves as principal cellist for the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus and has worked with the Palimpsest and Renga ensembles, Yarn/Wire, the USC Cello Ensemble, Project [BLANK], and San Diego New Music. He performs regularly as a soloist with orchestras in the region, presents chamber music with the i/0 String Quartet, the Redwood Piano Trio, and collaborates with artists and dancers in the creation of interdisciplinary work.
Peter has received his significant musical training from Charles Curtis, Vernon Regehr, Ronald Leonard, Ashley Walters, and Mario Ramirez. He has also received guidance from many other notable artists including Lynn Harrell, Felix Fan, Mark Fewer, Adrian Brendel, the Gryphon Trio, and the Dover String Quartet. He holds a MMus from Memorial University of Newfoundland, and a BA from University of California, San Diego. He is currently a DMA Candidate in Contemporary Music Performance at UC San Diego, and serves as adjunct faculty for Grossmont College
Peter Ko, Cellist 