Today we’d like to introduce you to Amit Peled.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Amit Peled, I am a cellist, teacher and educator. I was born and raised in a small kibbutz in Israel, and my first serious encounter with classical music came in fourth grade when we were asked to choose instruments at school. I picked the cello because of a girls that I wanted to get to know! In my teens I studied with Uri Vardi, who gave me the fundamentals, and then I pursued advanced studies in the United States with great teachers like Bernard Greenhouse, who had been a student of Pablo Casals and Boris Pergamenschikow.
Over the years I’ve been fortunate to build an international career as a soloist, chamber musician, and recording artist. A turning point came in 2012, when I was entrusted with Pablo Casals’s own Goffriller cello. Playing and recording on that instrument, especially the Bach Suites, gave me a profound connection to history and to the responsibility of carrying the cello tradition forward.
Alongside performing, teaching has been central to my life. I’m a professor at the Peabody Institute, and I founded ensembles and initiatives like the Mount Vernon Virtuosi and the CelloGang to give young artists real-world experience and to bring music to wider communities.
Today, I balance performing, teaching, and community work. For me, it all comes back to sharing the voice of the cello—not just on the big stages, but also with students, neighborhoods, and anyone open to experiencing the power of music.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like many musicians, I’ve faced the challenge of proving myself over and over again. In my early years, I was torn between basketball and music, and it wasn’t clear that the cello would be my path. Later, as I became more serious, I had to leave home, move across continents, and start from scratch in new cultures and languages.
One of the biggest struggles has been balance—finding time to nurture my career as a performer while also being a teacher, a husband, and a father.
But I’ve found that those struggles often spark new ideas. Founding the Mount Vernon Virtuosi, for example,
So no, it hasn’t been smooth—but those challenges have shaped who I am as an artist and teacher, and I wouldn’t trade them.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At my core, I’m a cellist and a storyteller through music. I’ve been fortunate to perform around the world as a soloist, chamber musician, and recording artist.
But beyond performing, I see my role as a teacher and community builder.
I think I’m most proud of finding ways to connect classical music with underprivileged communities—through projects like the Music House in East Baltimore, where young musicians live and share music for free with the neighborhood or Every Child Deserves a Voice. You can find more information about these projects on my website.
What sets me apart, I believe, is that I never separate the performer from the human being. I bring my whole self—my Israeli roots, my Jewish heritage, my teachers’ influence, my life as a father and mentor—into the music. I want audiences and students alike to feel that this art form is alive, human, and accessible.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is connection—using music to build bridges between people, generations, and cultures. I’ve personally seen how music can take you from the most modest beginnings to the largest stages, but also how it can bring people together in a room, regardless of background.
That’s why teaching is so important to me. It’s not only about excellence on the stage—it’s about giving young musicians the opportunity to share their voices, and about bringing music to communities that might not otherwise experience it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amitpeled.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amitpeledcellist/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CellistAmitPeled/
- Twitter: https://x.com/PeledAmit
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAXsUFoUl35s_dOFjqHiNzg
- Other: https://www.ctmclassics.com
