About Us

The Vancouver Cello Club was founded in 1969 by Ian Hampton to foster interest in cello playing. Hampton was the first president, succeeded by Audrey Piggott 1983-89, after which Hampton resumed the position. The organization has promoted interest in the cello repertoire - particularly in works for two or more cellos - and has provided a meeting ground for professional, amateur, and student cellists.

Its chief activities have been workshops, master classes, and recitals. Particularly important has been the establishment of two awards, the Caroline E. Riley Scholarship, given to a student member leaving Vancouver to pursue further study (winners have included Margaret Gay, John Friesen, Morag Northey, Stephanie Finn, and Sophie Willer) and the Graeme Ingram Summer Bursary. The club's encouragement of the writing of new music for cello has resulted in works from Jack Behrens, Robert Buckley, Jean Coulthard, Alex Pauk, Audrey Piggott, and R. Murray Schafer.

The club's extensive library of cello literature is housed in the Vancouver Academy of Music. The club became a member of the American Cello Council in the early 1980s. 

Joanne Dorenfeld, Bryan N.S. Gooch

Lee Duckles, former principal cellist of the Vancouver Symphony, is the current VCC president.