Michael Reynolds

Michael Reynolds has been the founding cellist of the world-renowned Muir String Quartet since its inception in 1979. As a member of the Muir Quartet and as soloist and chamber musician, Mr. Reynolds has performed over 2,000 concerts throughout North America, Europe and the Far East, and he has performed with such diverse artists as Leon Fleisher, Menachem Pressler, Gil Shaham, Richard Stoltzman, Phyllis Curtin and Benny Goodman. Accolades he has won with the Muir Quartet include first prize at the Evian Competition, the 1981 Naumberg Award, two Grand Prix du Disques, the Gramophone Award, a Grammy nomination and a Grammy on the EcoClassics label he founded, and an internationally acclaimed PBS broadcast, “In Performance at The White House” for President and Mrs. Reagan. A native of Montana, he received his professional training at the Curtis Institute of Music, where he was a student of David Soyer and Martita Casals, continuing with Karen Tuttle and George Neikrug and studies at Yale University.

Mr. Reynolds has appeared with orchestras and in recital throughout the U. S., and his recording of the complete Bach Suites for Solo Cello on the EcoClassics label has received much critical acclaim. Recent recordings include the Muir Quartet performing Berg Op. 3, Kreisler Quartet and Schulhoff 5 Pieces on the KidsClassics label, and the Beethoven Clarinet Trio (after the Septet) and Zemlinsky Trio with clarinetist Richard Stoltzman and pianist Judith Stillman on KidsClassics. Upcoming recordings include works from the Klezmer Tradition with clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein and the Muir Quartet. Profits from these recordings support Classics for Kids Foundation’s grant programs.

Mr. Reynolds has taught at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts since 1983. His students continue to develop successful careers in music, including members of the Boston Symphony and other orchestras, teachers at universities and other institutions internationally, four Boston Symphony Competition and numerous other competition winners.

He is co-founder and Director of Classics for Kids Foundation (www.classicsforkids.org), which has given matching grants for excellent student instruments to hundreds of string programs serving disadvantaged children around America. He is Artistic Director of ArtsLIVE! (artsliveva.org) in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and founder and Artistic Advisor of Montana Chamber Music Society (montanachambermusicsociety.org), the first statewide chamber music society in America. Mr. Reynolds has served on the faculties of New England Conservatory, Rutgers University, the University of Utah, and UC Santa Cruz. He received an honorary doctorate from Rhode Island College in 1995. In his spare time he is an avid flyfisherman and outdoorsman, and he has been featured in Fly Rod and Reel and The American Flyfisher.

Creative Works

• Beethoven Trio for Piano, Clarinet and Cello Op. 38, Zemlinsky Trio by Stoltzman, Stillman, Reynolds: KidsClassics
• Kreisler, Berg Op. 3, Schulhoff 5 Pieces with Muir Quartet: KidsClassics
• Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Wolf live from St. Timothy’s Chapel: EcoClassics 011
• Gems for Bassoon with Lurie and K. Reynolds: EcoClassics 010
• Wincenc and Muir performingVilla-Lobos, Ravel, Hanson, Grainger, Foss, and Barber: EcoClassics 008
• Bach Suites for Solo Cello, EcoClassics  007
• Beethoven String Quartets Op. 130, 135; Muir Quartet: EcoClassics 006
• Reger Clarinet Quintet and Hindemith Clarinet Quartet with Lurie, Muir Quartet: EcoClassics 005
• Schubert Death and the Maiden and Dvorak American Quartets; Muir Quartet: EcoClassics 004
• Beethoven String Quartets Op. 132 and Grosse Fuge; Muir Quartet: EcoClassics 003
• Brahms and Mozart Clarinet Quintets with Lurie, Muir Quartet: EcoClassics 001
• Brahms String Quartets Op. 51: Muir Quartet: ADDA
• Chausson Concert and String Quartet with Collard, Dumay, Muir Quartet: EMI
• Franck Piano Quintet with Collard, Muir Quartet: EMI
• Mozart Piano Concertos (complete Quartet versions with Collard, Muir Quartet:) EMI
• Mozart-Hoffmeister Flute Quartets with Wincenc, Muir Quartet: Music Masters
• Mozart Piano Quartets with Collard, Muir Quartet: EMI
• Schumann String Quartets Op. 41 No/s 1 and 3; Muir Quartet: ADDA
• Tchaikovsky Souvenir de Florence with Delmoni, Chang, Thompson, Ansell, Thomas, BCMS
• Wilson 3rd Quartet; Muir Quartet: CRI

Awards

• Blue and Gold Award, Montana State University, 2013
• Senior Panel, Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, 2003, 2012, 2017
• Grammy, 1995: Muir Quartet: Beethoven Quartets Op. 132, Grosse Fuge, EcoClassics
• Grammy nomination, 1994: Muir Quartet and Lurie: Mozart and Brahms Clarinet Quintets, EcoClassics
• Honorary Doctorate, Rhode Island College, 1994
• Grand Prix du Disque,1987: Muir Quartet, Dumay, Collard: Chausson Concert and String Quartet, EMI
• Grand Prix du Disque, 1986: Muir Quartet and Collard: Franck Piano Quintet, EMI
• In Performance at The White House: internationally televised performance with the Juilliard Quartet and Itzhak Perlman for President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan, 1984
• Walter M.Naumburg Award, 1981
• Evian Competition, 1st Prize, 1980