Alan Weinstein

Cellist, Alan Weinstein, has concertized throughout the US, Canada and Europe including New York City (Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall and Miller Theater), Washington D.C. (The Kennedy Center), Atlanta (Spivey Hall), Interlochen Festival, Piccolo Spoleto Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, InterHarmony International Music Festival in Archidosso and Acqui Terme, Italy and the Montecito International Music Festival.  As cellist for the mixed chamber ensemble, October Sky, he has performed at the National Library of Wales and Conway Hall in London. His interviews and recordings have been broadcast over National Public Radio as well as hundreds of classical music stations.  Live performances have been broadcast on National Public Radio’s Performance Today and WNYC’s Around New York. As a member of the Kandinsky Trio, he was the winner of national awards such as the Chamber Music America Residency Award, a NEA American Masterpieces Grant and a NEA Meet the Composers Award. The Kandinsky’s CD, In Foreign Lands (Brioso) was selected by WNED (Buffalo and Toronto) as one of the best CD’s of the year and London’s Music and Vision dubbed it “one of the year’s best chamber music recordings”.  Reviews and write ups for the Kandinskys include the Washington Post, the Charleston Post and Courier “a trio of stunning talent”, American Record Guide “spirited and persuasive” and the Cincinnati Enquirer “virtuosity with spine-tingling precision”.  The October Sky Ensemble’s debut recording on MSR Classics was met with critical acclaim by Fanfare : “They play with arresting spirit, tonal richness and razor-sharp ensemble“.

An advocate for electro-acoustic music, Weinstein has performed at the New York City Electro Acoustic Music Festival, the Splice Festival (Georgia), the Sonic Practice Now Festival (Ireland) Society of Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States and the New York City Electro-Acoustic Improvisation Summit.  His dedication to new music has led him to premiere compositions by artists such as Mike Reid (“Tales of Appalachia” performed in over 150 cities), Richard Danielpour, John D’earth and Hilary Tann. His jazz collaborations have included performances with Larry Coryell, Kurt Rosenwinkle, Dave Samuels, the beatboxer Shodekeh and as a harmonica player with Ray Charles.

As Musical Director of documentary films, Weinstein has contributed to the internationally award winning Afghan Dreamers (2022) and the Blech Effect (2020). He is currently working on a new documentary titled Kalinsky.

Passionate about teaching, Weinstein has served as a faculty member at the Hindemith Institute in Blonay, Switzerland, the InterHarmony International Music Festival in Arcidosso, and Acqui Terme, Italy, the Montecito International Music Festival in California and has given numerous master classes at institutions including the Universities of Memphis, Michigan State, New Mexico, Penn State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and the Interlochen Arts Academy. As an Associate Professor at Virginia Tech, he has developed an experiential Arts and Creativity class taught to thousands of students. The University has awarded him the Alumni Teaching Award, the Certificate of Teaching Excellence Award, the Sturm Award for Faculty Excellence in the Creative Arts and appointed him a Pathways Scholar.

Weinstein holds degrees in music performance from the New England Conservatory of Music and the Eastman School of Music. His principal teachers include Alan Harris, Timothy Eddy and Steven Doane. He has recorded for Arabesque Records, Brioso, OmniTone  and MSR labels and plays a cello attributed to Albani circa 1690.