Joel Becktell

Cellist Joel Becktell has performed, taught, and lectured throughout North America and Europe. His performances have garnered critical and popular acclaim, and he has collaborated with many highly respected soloists and conductors. He is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees with honors, and was awarded the Rubenstein prize for cello performance. Joel has been a member of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Nichols Quartet, the Harrington String Quartet, and the Moveable Feast chamber ensemble. From 1995 - 2002 he served as Principal Cellist of the Austin Symphony Orchestra, and has also been Principal Cellist with the Santa Fe Pro Musica, and Assistant Principal Cellist with the Santa Fe Symphony. Joel appears frequently on Baroque and modern cello, and violoncello piccolo as soloist and with ensembles throughout North America. He and pianist Carla McElhaney perform a popular series of concerts as Revel, programming a wide range of repertoire for cello and piano and larger ensembles in a casual, welcoming atmosphere.

Joel's principal teachers were Anne Cole, Alan Harris, and Stephen Geber.