Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Peter Rejto was a renowned cellist and music educator who was born on August 17, 1944, in Budapest, Hungary. He was born into a family of musicians, and his father, Gyorgy Rejto, was a well-known cellist and professor at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. Peter Rejto began playing the cello at the age of six, and he quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument. Rejto's family fled Hungary in 1956 during the Hungarian Revolution, and they settled in the United States. Rejto continued his cello studies with his father and later with Leonard Rose at the Juilliard School in New York City. He also studied with Pablo Casals in Puerto Rico and with Gregor Piatigorsky in Los Angeles. Rejto made his debut as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic at the age of 18, and he went on to perform with many other major orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He was also a frequent performer at music festivals, including the Marlboro Music Festival and the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. In addition to his career as a performer, Rejto was also a dedicated music educator. He taught at the University of Southern California, the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the University of Arizona. He was also a faculty member at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California, and the Bowdoin International Music Festival in Maine. Rejto was known for his warm and expressive playing style, and he was particularly admired for his interpretations of the works of Bach and Beethoven. He was also a champion of contemporary music, and he premiered many new works for the cello. Throughout his career, Rejto received many awards and honors for his contributions to the world of classical music. He was a recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant, the Naumburg Award, and the Casals Prize. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Rejto passed away on December 31, 2008, at the age of 64. He left behind a legacy as a performer, educator, and advocate for classical music. His recordings and performances continue to inspire and delight audiences around the world.

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