Alexander Paley Music Festival
· Festival Musicians: Rebecca Zimmerman ·
Rebecca Zimmerman is an active chamber musician, orchestral musician, and teacher in Chicago. She performs regularly with Camerata Chicago, Elgin Symphony, and Cover Girls. She is on the faculty of Merit School of Music, Northwestern University Academy, Oak Park String Academy, and the Eastern Music Festival.
Before going to Chicago, Rebecca was a member of Canton Symphony Orchestra in Ohio, the Richmond Symphony in Virginia, New World Symphony in Miami, and Northwest Indiana Symphony. She received her Master’s in Music from Northwestern University, Magna Cum Laude, under the instruction of Hans Jorgen Jensen and her Bachelor’s in Music, Cum Laude, from the Cleveland Institute of Music under the instruction of Stephen Geber.
Rebecca has been immersed in music from a very early age. She started taking piano from her mother at the age of four. At the age of eight, Rebecca saw Yo Yo Ma performing on PBS and immediately fell in love with the cello. Her parents encouraged her to continue practicing piano to prove that she was devoted to music, and then started her on cello two years later. She studied with Dajing Yang from the Shanghai Conservatory, James Wilson from the Shanghai Quartet and Neal Cary from the Richmond Symphony. In 1999, Rebecca made her solo debut with the Richmond Symphony performing the Dvorak Cello Concerto in B Minor. And in 2000, she performed the Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1 with the Eastern Music Festival Orchestra.
Rebecca is the Secretary for the Chicago Cello Society whose mission is to promote the art of cello playing; promote an interest in and appreciation of the cello as a solo instrument; develop a broader understanding of the art of the cello; provide performance opportunities for cellists; provide a common meeting ground for professional and amateur cellists; and keep abreast of current events in the cello world.
Rebecca plays on a William Whedbee cello and a Seppelfrick bow.
In her free time, Rebecca enjoys running (her fourth marathon will be in October), reading, writing, and walking her terrier mix puppy, rescued via the Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago.