Texas Cellos have joined the ranks of a beloved institution in Texan musical life. In 2020, our pandemic cello choir became the impetus for founding a cello ensemble. Our exceptional tonal and virtuosic qualities soon took concert audiences by storm, and now Texas Cellos enjoy a remarkable following, selling out at every concert they have given.
Whether we’re playing classics from baroque to modern, jazz, tango, movie tunes, or avant-garde, listeners are invariably fascinated by the wide range of unique and intoxicating timbres that our cellos can produce, and our mixture of seriousness and humor, of depth and lightness, appeals to audiences of all ages.
Since 2020, with grassroots support, Texas Cellos has consistently presented programs of the highest level international artists to sold out audiences, and recruited talented students to Texas Cello School. The cello choir itself is now touring around the country performing to sold out audiences in notable venues. The Institute continues to grow in reputation around the world and to attract the highest level teachers and students.
Our popular MUSIC@MILL Festival, recently rebranded to TexasCellos SESSIONS, presents the most renowned musicians of our time in Texas’ coolest clubs, breweries, and venues where they are free to blend genres in a casual setting.
In July 2023, Metamorphosis Dallas, our conductor-less chamber orchestra, debuted at the Basically Beethoven Festival in Dallas to rave reviews. In April 2024, Metamorphosis presented a GALA concert in Winspear Opera House with cellist Steven Isserlis as soloist to a crowd of over 1,000.
"Impressive new chamber orchestra opens Basically Beethoven Festival. Metamorphosis Dallas Chamber Orchestra.. excellent!"
-Scott Cantrell, DALLAS MORNING NEWS.
The chamber orchestra is democratic, with rotating principal players. Members of the chamber orchestra are musicians from the leading Dallas, and Ft Worth orchestras, respected chamber musicians and international prize winners.
Organizational History
Texas Cellos is a vibrant Dallas-based nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the community through exceptional music performances and innovative educational programs. Founded in 2020, Texas Cellos emerged as a response to the isolation and disconnection experienced by musicians during the pandemic.
Under the leadership of Joseph Kuipers, Texas Cellos has rapidly grown to become a leading force in the Dallas music scene.
Since our inception, Texas Cellos has become a musical phenomenon. We stage an astounding number of concerts each year, showcasing unique performances and featuring a captivating blend of classical repertoire and contemporary styles. Our performances consistently surpass expectations, drawing enthusiastic crowds eager to witness the virtuosity of both our talented student cellists and the renowned guest artists who grace our stages. The energy of the student participants is infectious. Texas Cellos’ rapid rise to prominence is a testament to the organization’s creativity, dedication, and ability to ignite a passion for music in a way that resonates deeply with audiences of all ages. With over 50 concerts, 4 festivals, and 4 institutes, Texas Cellos has impacted over 12,500 attendees and 400 cello students. Furthermore, through scholarships, we nurture the musical journeys of over 80% of our student cellists.
24/25 TexasCellos SESSIONS
Mission
“Cellists are a unique bunch, with a shared love for sound, expression, and friendship in music making”
It is the mission of the Texas Cellos to advance cello playing throughout the world. Texas Cellos, Texas Cello School, TexasCellos SESSIONS (formerly MUSIC@MILL Festival) and Metamorphosis Dallas (chamber orchestra) embody an enduring commitment to artistic excellence and the discovery and cultivation of young talent.
TEXAS CELLOS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and gives back to the community by inspiring and cultivating excellence in youth through music education, ensemble building, and through performance opportunities.
Needs
Key initiatives include:
Texas Cellos School: Launched in 2021, Texas Cellos School is a thriving institute offering immersive learning experiences for students of all ages. Now with locations in McKinney and Houston, the School fosters artistic growth in a unique environment.
Metamorphosis Dallas: This unique conductor-less chamber orchestra debuted in 2023 and has quickly gained recognition for its innovative approach to classical music and features renowned musicians from around the world.
TexasCellos SESSIONS (Formerly Music@Mill Festival): a wildly successful concert series features renowned artists across genres, such as the Grammy winning Parker Quartet, captivating audiences in the Lone Star State.
Texas Cellos Ambassadors – a student initiated extracurricular program for enthusiastic middle and high school cellists allows students to grow by connecting with other musicians and promotes the cello through student led performances and outreach across the state of Texas.
Equity Statement
Each student is an individual with their own talent, passions as well as technical and musical strengths and weaknesses. Texas Cellos aspires to understand, and respect, the individual profile of each of our students by serving as a conscience encouraging their strengths, while leading them to recognize the truth and beauty of the music they play. It is that goal that should inform their technique, and not the other way round. Our students are from Texas, across the U.S., as well as Europe, and Asia. The emphasis is on shared experiences, with mutual respect, encouragement, and support expected of each member of the institute. Our work is intense, but there is always time for friendly, relaxed social interaction. We come to know and feel at ease with each other as in a close family, building on positive motivation and stimulation from shared musical values and goals, and eschewing narrow-minded competition.
Texas Cellos seeks to nurture the new generation of musicians to ensure that the highest levels of professional skill are allied with the ability to perform with integrity without regard to gender/sexual orientation, race, demographic.