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Cellist Richard Slavich, Chair of the String and Chamber Music Departments at Lamont, is a concert artist of vast experience, having appeared as soloist with many orchestras, including the Colorado Symphony and National Repertory Orchestras. He has performed in recital throughout the US, in venues ranging from Chicago's Orchestra Hall and Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center to rural elementary schools in South Carolina. As winner of the United States Information Agency's "Artistic Ambassador" competition, Mr. Slavich presented 5 weeks of concerts, master classes, and radio broadcasts throughout Asia. A highlight of his concert career was a performance of the entire set of Bach solo cello suites during the 1999-2000 concert season. In a remarkable display of professional dedication and consistency, he has performed a solo recital every year of his 35 years of service at the University of Denver.
An avid chamber music player, he has performed hundreds of chamber music recitals, most notably as cellist of the Denver Trio, and as frequent guest with the DaVinci Quartet. Mr. Slavich and his wife, professional cellist Katharine Knight, have performed several times together as the mischievously named cello duo “Hot Celli”.
Mr. Slavich’s first professional position was a three year engagement as solo cellist of the Nuremberg, Germany Symphony Orchestra. He has also served as principal cellist of the Boulder Bach Festival and National Repertory Orchestras. He is currently on the faculty of the prestigious Montecito Summer Music Festival in Santa Barbara, CA.
Mr. Slavich is widely recognized as a dedicated and demanding teacher. Chair of the string department at the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music, he directs the cello and chamber music programs, and each year offers a ten-week seminar on combating “stage fright”. He has presented cello master-classes throughout the US, and in Canada, India, Thailand , and Malaysia. His essay “A Player’s Guide to the Popper Etudes” appeared in the May 2001 ASTA Journal. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa in History from Stanford University, he earned his music degrees from the prestigious Indiana University School of Music, which awarded him the accolade "Graduate with Highest Distinction". His teachers include Fritz Magg, Janos Starker, Frank Miller, Menahem Pressler, and William Primrose.
Mr. Slavich’s first CD An American Cellobration explores the music of five contemporary American composers and is available on the Crystal Records label (CD639). A second CD Cello Meditations explores spiritual dimensions of the cello’s voice in works by composers ranging from Bach to Messiaen.
Mr. Slavich has been the recipient of much critical acclaim, both in concert: