Description:

Cellist Norman Fischer, a lifelong friend of composer George Rochberg, coaches Bienen student chamber musicians as part of the weeklong colloquium Unearthing Love and Grief in George Rochberg’s Third String Quartet.

Fischer was a member of the Concord String Quartet throughout its 16-year career, during which the group received two Grammy nominations and an Emmy Award. He is currently a member of the Fischer Duo, together with pianist Jeanne Kierman. In addition to specializing in music of Beethoven, Brahms, and Schumann, the Duo has premiered more than 30 new scores by composers including George Rochberg, Augusta Read Thomas, Robert Sirota, Pierre Jalbert, and Richard Wilson. As a soloist, Fischer opened the 1995 Tanglewood Music Center season and has given concerto performances under such conductors as Lukas Foss, Robert Spano, Larry Rachleff, and Efrain Guigui. He is the Herbert S. Autrey Professor of Cello and Director of Chamber Music at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.