Dr. Andrew Ascenzo

Biography

Cellist, educator, and music artistic director, Andrew Ascenzo is redefining the role of a professional musician in the 21st Century. Avid chamber musician, Andrew is a co-founder and co-artistic director, as well as the cellist for the Canadian Chamber Orchestra and the founding member of the award-winning Bedford Trio from 2016 to 2023, performing extensively across Canada, the United States, and Europe. As a freelance orchestral cellist, he regularly performs with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Concert Orchestra, and has collaborated with touring artists such as Lauryn Hill, Sigur Rós, and Bruce Cockburn. In 2016, he served as the artistic director and producer for Music Atrium's 29th season at Toronto's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. His administrative roles have included serving as artistic producer for Banff Centre’s Evolution Classical programs and multimedia producer for organizations like the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the University of Toronto. Andrew has also extensively engaged in musical theatre, including Music Director for Eclipse Theatre Company’s original production 'Til 2019. In collaboration with music therapist Dr. SarahRose Black, he founded Pulse Music, exploring the intersections of performing arts and music therapy through storytelling performance. Andrew has guest lectured at the University of Toronto and graduated from the Doctor of Music Arts Program in 2020, receiving the Tecumseh Sherman Rogers Graduating Award, the highest honor awarded by the Faculty of Music.

Research Interests