Q & A with guest cellist Brant Taylor

Brant Taylor, cellist, performs with the ESO on Nov. 4 and 5, 2023.

Brant Taylor, cellist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, will perform with the ESO on Nov. 4 and 5, on the Brahms Double Concerto alongside his long-time friend, violinist Stephen Rose. For Brant, this piece has special meaning. We recently asked him about that and his career, which started when made his solo debut at the age of 14 with the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets are now available for the Saturday and Sunday performances.

How long have you been playing the cello and how did you get started?

I began playing the cello in the fourth grade, in a public school music program. 

 Do you play other instruments?

I play a bit of piano -- at least enough to have played in rock bands during high school and college! But I think those days are gone...

What is special to you about the Brahms Double Concerto?  

Brahms' Double Concerto is very special to cellists because it is the only concerto we have by this amazing composer. Besides the great solo writing for the violinist and cellist, the orchestral part is quite substantial and satisfying for the orchestra, much like in Brahms' symphonies. Chamber music is my first love, so it is wonderful to have a solo concerto which also feels very much like chamber music because I have a colleague next to me on the stage! And lastly, this piece is special to me because I have known it for more than half of my life. I was lucky to win the concerto competition in college with this piece, so I performed it way back then and have loved it ever since.

What has been your most memorable moment as an orchestra musician?

This is almost impossible to answer because I've been fortunate to perform the great orchestral repertoire for so many years now. I have a long list of favorite pieces and composers, and certainly to perform a transcendent piece of music with a great conductor or soloist along with my wonderful colleagues always feels like a peak experience. There are also memorable moments off stage, particularly when touring with an orchestra. I've been lucky to see so many places in the world to perform for different audiences -- and missed flights, jetlag, unfamiliar food, unexpected illness, and any number of other things can make for many good stories and memorable experiences too!

You are involved in teaching and mentoring the next generation of musicians in your discipline. What advice do you have for young cellists?

I feel fortunate to have had great teachers, so there is a certain responsibility to pass this knowledge on, since one cannot learn to play an instrument at a high level solely from reading books or watching Internet videos about it. In the 21st-century, it's more important than ever for young musicians to be adaptable and versatile. The profession is constantly changing, and the next generations will come up with new ways to carry the art form forward, while maintaining the best of what we have received from those who came before us. For those young musicians studying an instrument, seeking out a great teacher and learning to work efficiently and intelligently is ideal, while remembering that there are no shortcuts to excellence. Have faith in the daily work that you do, knowing that this labor, often alone in a practice room while no one is watching, really does add up to success over time.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I'm so happy to be performing with my great friend and colleague Stephen Rose. Steve and I have known each other since we were 19 years old, when we met at a music festival. Then we were both members of the Everest String Quartet, which was our first full-time job when we finished school. We play together at summer music festivals to this day, and there is no one that I feel more comfortable with on stage than Steve, after all these years!