British-German cellist Philip Graham assumes the role
The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BRSO) has appointed Philip Graham as its new first principal cellist. Graham has previously served as guest solo cellist with the orchestra, as well as with the Munich Philharmonic.
Graham was the former cellist of the Berlin-based Notos Piano Quartet from 2015 to 2024, with which he performed in major concert halls and festivals across Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. The quartet released three albums on Sony Classical and won six first prizes at international competitions, including the Würth Prize by Jeunesses Musicales Germany.
Since 2024, Graham has undertaken performances at the Lockenhaus Chamber Music Festival in the 2024/25 season, a video production featuring solo works by H.W. Henze and B.A. Zimmermann, collaborations with artists such as Christian Tetzlaff and Heinz Holliger, plus engagements with the Esbjerg Ensemble.
Graham is a founding member of the Notos Chamber Music Academy in collaboration with Jeunesses Musicales Germany. Together with his father, the British composer David P. Graham, he led courses on teaching modern compositional styles and the interpretation of new works for children and young people. Since the winter semester of 2024/25, Graham has also taught at the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin.
Graham studied with Clemens Hagen (Mozarteum University Salzburg), Alexander Hülshoff (Folkwang University of the Arts), and Nicolas Altstaedt (Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin), and received further musical inspiration from figures such as Günter Pichler (Alban Berg Quartet), Lucas Fels (Arditti Quartet), Heinrich Schiff, Steven Isserlis, among others.
Graham plays a cello by Giovanni Battista Grancino from 1700 with support from the Merito String Instruments Trust and is a Pirastro Artist.
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