American cellist who made his orchestral debut in his mid-teens and was playing as a principal cellist of the Cleveland Orchestra by the time he was 21. He struck out on his own in 1970 as a soloist, performing with the world’s leading symphonies in the U.S. and abroad, and recording a number of highly acclaimed records.
Lynn Morris Harrell grew up in a musical environment, being born to a mother who was a professional violinist, and a father who had distinguished himself as a baritone specializing in cantatas and oratorios. Growing up, he was mainly interested in sports, especially baseball, and played on some of the best school teams in Dallas. He studied the piano for a few years then became attracted to the cello at age nine after meeting one of his parents’ friends, a cellist who played in a string quartet. At 12, he began serious study. He left Texas to study at Juilliard in New York and the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, as well as summer sessions at the Meadowmount School in upstate New York, a center known for training young string players.
Harrell first gained nationwide attention in the spring of 1960, sharing top honors in the Merriweather Post Contest in Washington, D. C. As part of his award, he was booked for four performances with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, while still a teenager.
His father died of cancer in 1960, and his mother from an automobile accident shortly after her husband’s death.
At age 18, Harrell auditioned for and won a place in the string section of the Cleveland Orchestra. He made his New York City debut at age 20 as a soloist at Carnegie Recital Hall. At 21, he was promoted to principal cellist, becoming the youngest principal player in the Cleveland Orchestra’s history. In 1970, he left his post in Cleveland for a solo career. From 1971 on, he appeared as solo cellist in recitals and engagements across the United States and abroad.
In January 1975, he was a recipient of the first Avery Fisher Prizes, awarded on the basis of balloting of more than 150 musicians and organizations throughout the United States. The prize included invitations to perform with the New York Philharmonic and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. He continued giving well-lauded performances and acquired a growing discography on the RCA and CBS labels as well as on London/Decca, with which he signed an exclusive contract. He was on the faculty of the Cleveland Institute of Music and served as artist-in-residence at the University of Cincinnati. He also taught at Juilliard School in New York.
On 9/07/1976, Harrell married British journalist Linda Blanford, who had interviewed him in 1975 for the “London Observer” when he made his debut with the London Symphony Orchestra. They have twin children, Eben and Katherine. A blond giant of 6’3″, he was once up to 300 lbs until maintaining a trim weight of 215 lbs.
Link to Wikipedia biography