O
liver Herbert is a concert cellist with a rapidly growing 
international presence and a 2021 Avery Fisher Career 
Grant recipient. He has appeared as soloist with the San 
Francisco Symphony, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and 
others, performing under conductors such as Michael Tilson 
Thomas, Giancarlo Guerrero, and Juanjo Mena.
Gaining attention for the clarity and imagination of his musical 
thinking, Herbert curates recital and chamber programs with 
distinct artistic focus, often drawing connections across eras, 
styles, and disciplines. This has led to opportunities to present 
his curatorial work with institutions such as Deutschlandfunk.
He has appeared as soloist with ensembles such as the San 
Francisco Symphony and Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and 
performs regularly at leading festivals and venues including 
Marlboro, Carnegie Hall, the Rheingau Festival, Verbier Festival, 
the Utrecht Festival, and the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society. He has performed with musicians 
such as Mitsuko Uchida and Tabea Zimmermann.
With a love for programming, Herbert approaches his projects with a wide-ranging curiosity—
exploring lesser-known repertoire, music of today, and connections that reveal new perspectives 
on familiar works. His interests have led to projects around the world, including chamber music 
curations for Deutschlandfunk and the TICA Festival in Hong Kong, as well as premieres of new 
works by composers such as Andrew Moses and Žibuoklė Martinaitytė.
Herbert studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and the Colburn School, where he worked with 
Carter Brey, Pamela Frank, Clive Greensmith, and Peter Wiley, and at the Kronberg Academy in the 
Professional Studies Program with Frans Helmerson. He plays on a Guadagnini cello that belonged 
to Antonio Janigro, generously on loan from the Janigro family. In 2025, Herbert was accepted into 
the Orpheum Foundation’s development program for young soloists.
Photo by Todd Rosenberg
BIOGRAPHY   Oliver Herbert, cello    	
	
18   Santa Rosa Symphony	
(707) 546-8742

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