Board of Directors

Board President & Founder

In our life together, I appreciated every day how Lynn’s perspective on music was shaped not just by his knowledge and attention to the details of the cello, but drew inspiration from art and literature as well. Our conversations were wide-ranging and, in turn, inspired and shaped my own musical life. The idea of creating a foundation that would continue his legacy came from that inspiration, and from offering to others the opportunity to get to know him and learn from him through his interests and music.

I know that he would be so pleased to share with others all that contributed to his 60-year career and to continue influencing and shaping musical perspectives far into the future.

Executive Committee Member

It is an honor and privilege to be involved with the Lynn Harrell Foundation. I feel very fortunate to have known such a prodigious individual and artist. Lynn expressed an openness to new ideas, including playing a modern cello that I was fortunate to make for him. When he received the dimensional copy of his famous Montagnana that I made, he exclaimed, “Oh this one is perfect…it reminds me of a Turner painting”! Creating Lynn’s cello was the beginning of an inspirational friendship. Always inquisitive, he challenged me to think of ways to improve the cello voice in my instrument making.

The opportunity to promote and share the passion, intellectual curiosity, and exceptional talent, in the spirit of Lynn’s memory, leaves me beyond words. While Lynn’s cello voice is no longer with us, the embodiment of the artistic values he embraced and championed will be honored with my contributions to his legacy in the Lynn Harrell Foundation.

I first met Lynn when he was playing in the orchestra for the Grand Teton Music Festival. I was singing a Wagner program, and we were rehearsing the Wesendonck Lieder. I always like to face the orchestra at the first rehearsal, and love the feeling of making chamber music with the players. I noticed this guy playing principal cello, and thought he sure looked familiar, and his solo lines were stunning.

At the break, I went over to chat with him, and said that I thought his playing sounded like SINGING! And he said, “Well, my dad was a singer – maybe you’ve heard of him – Mack Harrell.”

And it was then that I realized Lynn Harrell was playing in the orchestra! He said that he never got many chances to play in orchestras, and when he had the opportunity to play some Wagner, he jumped at the chance. We did some recitals together after that first meeting, and whether we were playing, singing, fly fishing, chatting, there was always this love of life and joy of music-making about Lynn that touched my heart. One of my favorite memories was recording Randy Kerber’s arrangement of Harold Arlen’s Somewhere Over the Rainbow with Lynn. It is a lovely arrangement, and Lynn helped me bring those words to life. Thank you, Lynn! I learned so much from Lynn and miss him very much.

I am honored to be a part of the Lynn Harrell Foundation, and look forward to carrying on his legacy of music-making.

Simply put – I owe everything to Lynn. Lynn was the first professional who believed in me, and my life would be dramatically different if we had never met. He was the first person to recommend me to conduct a professional orchestra – the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He was the first professional who I ever conducted/accompanied when we performed the Shostakovich 1st Cello Concerto at the L.A. Phil Institute. He was the first professional I ever played chamber music with regularly. All these things, all these moments, were the beginnings of my professional career.

More importantly, Lynn was my teacher, my colleague, and my friend. He continually supported me through the years, and those times when we had a chance to perform together again are absolutely treasured, not least for being able to sit at a table, eat, drink, and talk music. For Lynn, the subject of “music” encompassed everything – history, religion, science, you name it – and we would wax poetic and solve the problems of the universe.

I miss him, and I am proud to continue his legacy. Thank you, my friend, and Godspeed.

The 28-year-old Lynn Harrell became my cello teacher at the Blossom Music Festival during his final summer as Principal Cellist with the Cleveland Orchestra. In the decades since, I collaborated as conductor and played chamber music with Lynn, and watched him influence generations of string players worldwide. His cello was like a child’s favorite toy, yet he transformed technique, musical substance and expression — all based on emulating the human voice.

Lynn taught by example. He was energetic, brilliant and articulate. A powerhouse, he effortlessly maintained a near-herculean schedule of performing, teaching and traveling — while also becoming skilled in tennis and chess. His legendary knowledge of music repertoire was all-encompassing. Deeply thoughtful, he reliably responded to questions with wide-eyed attention, compassion and unalloyed reality. He was never insulting or negative. He was always inspirational.

It will be my great honor to serve on the Board of Directors and help raise funds for a foundation dedicated to his extraordinary legacy.