Collin Oldham with Cello and HeadphonesIn the course of my musical life, the vast majority of my creative activity has involved playing the cello. As a kid, I played in the Portland Youth Philharmonic, and was a student of Beverly LeBeck. Then I went off to Northwestern University, where I earned my Bachelor of Music, studying with Hans Jørgen Jensen. He encouraged me to study with Ron Leonard, and I spent two years with him at USC, but not before I spent two years in Louisville Kentucky where I earned my Master of Music, played in the Louisville Orchestra, and studied with Susie Onwood (a former Leonard student) and then spent another two years at the Moscow Conservatory, where I studied with Dmitri Miller. In 1999, I moved to Washington D.C. and became an active free-lance musician. I played regularly with the Washington Opera and the National Symphony, as well as with many of the regional orchestras and chamber groups there. With violinist Lina Bahn, I started the Mount Pleasant Chamber Players, which was awarded an NEA grant. Some of the tracks below are from a program Lina and I prepared for the 2003 International Gaudeamus Interpreter's Competition.

I've also performed and recorded with Richmond Fontaine, and made my contribution to the history of Russian blues cello with Dr. Nick, and I'll be on The Decemberists' next album.

Here are a couple of recent programs: CMF/Ensemble Aleph in Paris     CCRMA newstage


Audio excerpts:

George Crumb, Sonata for Solo Cello, third movementCollin Oldham and Lina Bahn

with Lina,
Bohuslav Martinu, Duo no. 2
Chiel Meijering, i fratelli

Here's a cello improvisation with electronics:
kanaan.mp3

Perhaps you would prefer some Beethoven:
Variations on Mozart's "Bei Männern..."

If you are thinking of hiring me for your orchestra, you may want to hear me play this:
Haydn D, exposition & cadenza.mp3




this is Lina and I
as shot by Lina.
 She's a multitalent!

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