Monterey Symphony

Drew Ford
Cello

Drew Ford was born and raised near Columbia, South Carolina. After hearing a middle school orchestra’s recruitment concert, he and his twin sister, Kate, were inspired to begin playing cello and violin respectively. Given the important role it played in his own life, he encourages the community to be outspoken and generous in its support of public school music programs.

Soon Drew began serious private studies with Dr. Robert Jesselson of the University of South Carolina. At seventeen he became the youngest member ever of the South Carolina Philharmonic. Two years later he let to study under Bonnie Hampton at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. After receiving his Bachelor of Music he continued studies at the Juilliard School in New York completing his Master of Music in 2006.

Drew’s enthusiasm for orchestral music has taken him on tour across the western world. As principal cellist for Musica Europa World Youth Orchestra, a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador organization based in Rome, and he performed live as a featured soloist on Algerian national radio and in Tunisia’s grand Roman Colosseum at El Jem. With Juilliard’s Orchestras he has performed at the Lucerne Festival, in Berlin, Helskini, London, Chicago, Dallas, San Diego and at Los Angeles’ Disney Hall.

Currently Drew is Principal Cellist of the Stockton Symphony and plays regularly with many other Bay Area orchestras. He maintains a small teaching studio in Foster City.

Return to the Roster