Cellist, John Friesen, is known for his exciting and passionate performances.  He has performed in New York, Washington, D.C., Moscow, Montreal, Tokyo and elsewhere and has released three solo recordings, "Sotto Voce", "Soul" and Suites 1, 2 & 3 by J.S. Bach.  His recording credits also extend into pop music, as solo cellist for such performers as kd lang, Getty Lee and Chava Alberstein.  Recently, he was the featured soloist on the CBS made-for-TV movie “Matters of the Heart” about a blind cello professor.

John Friesen has won prizes at the Montreal Symphony Competition and the Eckhardt-Grammatte National Music Competition.  He is a recipient of Canada Council Awards and the Lincoln Center Fund Awards and has been heard on CBC national radio and television, CTV national television and WNYC Radio, New York.

 Mr. Friesen earned a bachelors degree at the University of British Columbia studying with Eric Wilson and a masters degree at the Juilliard School in New York under the tutelage of Harvey Shapiro and Channing Robbins. He then went on to further studies at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where he completed a doctorate degree under cellist, Lynn Harrell.  

 Besides his active performing and recording, Dr. Friesen is an assistant professor of cello at Western Washington University.