Cello Day at Butler University

Special Guests:

Austin Huntington, Principal Cellist, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

Austin Huntington was appointed principal cellist of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in June 2015 at the age of 20, currently making him one of the youngest principal musicians in a major American orchestra. He was recently the runner-up for the San Francisco Symphony’s principal cello position in March 2022 as well as a finalist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s principal cello position in March 2018. During the summer, Austin is a principal cellist for the Mainly Mozart Festival and Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestras.

Austin is a former first prize winner of the Stulberg and Irving M. Klein international string competitions and is a top prize winner of the Schadt national cello competition. He has performed as soloist with orchestras such as the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Marin Symphony, Colburn Orchestra, Santa Cruz Symphony, San Jose Chamber Orchestra, and the Salomon Chamber Orchestra.

An avid chamber musician, Austin has collaborated with artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Augustin Hadelich, Wu Han, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Garrick Ohlssohn, and Edgar Meyer. He is the chair of the Indianapolis Suzuki Academy’s Board of Directors and previously was a faculty member at Indiana University and the University of Indianapolis.

Austin holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Colburn School Conservatory of Music and a Masters of Music degree from Indiana University, where he studied with Ronald Leonard and Eric Kim respectively. He plays on a beautiful old Italian cello made in Florence, c. 1740.

Butler Faculty:

Dr. Bill Grubb, Associate Professor of Cello
William Grubb, cellist, made his professional debut as soloist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra at the age of 17.  He holds three degrees from The Juilliard School and was the fourth cellist in the school’s history to earn the Doctor of Musical Arts degree.  While at Juilliard, he was winner of the Concert Artists Guild Competition and presented his New York recital debut at Carnegie Hall.  His cello teachers have included his father, Cassel Grubb at DePauw University, Fritz Magg at Indiana University, Ronald Leonard at the Eastman School of Music, and Harvey Shapiro at The Juilliard School.

Dr. Grubb holds teaching positions at Butler University, Jordan College of the Arts, and the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music.  Summer positions have included 35 summers at the Aspen Music Festival and School where he served on the board of trustees for nine years.  In Beijing, he was on the faculty of the Great Wall International Music Academy.  He has presented cello masterclasses at Aspen, the Hans Eisler School in Berlin, Peabody, the University of Michigan, Temple University, DePauw University, and the University of Colorado.  He is a trustee and board member for the Indianapolis Suzuki Academy.

Dr. Lori Honer, Instructor of Cello, Founder and Director of Indianapolis Cello School
Lori Honer founded the Indianapolis Cello School in 2016 and currently serves as its Director. In addition, Dr. Honer is a Lecturer in Music and the Coordinator of String Studies at Franklin College and the Director of Chamber Music at the Indianapolis Suzuki Academy. She earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Cello in Performance from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music.  her master’s degree from Jacob School of Music, Indiana University and her Bachelor of Music from DePauw University with further studies in cello performance at the Mozarteum University Salzburg. Previously, Dr. Honer  has taught cello, coached chamber music, and taught string pedagogy and literature courses at University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music and Vincennes University.  Working with students of all ages and backgrounds, many of her students now enjoy successful teaching and performing careers of their own.

Schedule is subject to change. All sessions will take place in the Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall unless otherwise noted.

• 9:30 – 10:30 AM Check-in and instrument sampling with Encore Orchestral Strings, Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall lobby
• 10:30 AM Master Class with special guest, Eidson-Duckwall stage
• 12:00 PM Free lunch with current cello majors in the Marketplace at Atherton Union
• 12:45 PM Presentations by Dr. Lori Honer and Dr. Bill Grubb, Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall
• 1:30 PM Large Cello Ensemble presentation with all participants, Ford Salon in the Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall, lower level. Remember to bring your cello!
• 2:00 PM Dismissal from Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall lobby