DANIEL POCETA, cello

Daniel Poceta started playing cello at age five in his hometown of San Diego. He received his master’s degree from Rice University under the tutelage of Desmond Hoebig, and his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, where he studied with Anthony Elliott. While at UM, he performed the Walton Cello Concerto with the UM Symphony Orchestra as a concerto competition winner, and also gave the world premiere of composer Michael Fumai’s Desiderata for cello and orchestra, under the baton of Elim Chan.

Festival appearances include three summers spent at the Tanglewood Music Center, where he performed under acclaimed conductors Andris Nelsons, Herbert Bloemstedt, Christoph von Dohnányi, and Stéphane Denève, among others. He has also spent summers at the Music Academy of the West and the Colorado College Summer Music Festival.

Poceta joins the Calgary Philharmonic from the Orchestra Now, an innovative orchestral training program affiliated with Bard College. Outside of music, he is passionate about baking bread and being outside as much as possible.