FM
Biography
Eric Longsworth,composer and cellist.
Longsworth was born in the United States, in 1959. He lived and worked in Montreal for 15 years. The composer and cellist has carved his own niche within the musical world, somewhere alongside jazz, world-beat and new music. Longsworth's singularity originates in his choice to pursue a divergent musical path, radically different from classical instrumentalists, and to explore unconventional ways of imparting spirit and vibrations to his instrument. A student of Gary Hoffman and of the great Janos Starker, at the University of Indiana, Eric Longsworth discovers jazz with David Baker, one of the most renowned North-American teachers. The cellist's classical training leads him to play with diverse musical ensembles in Houston, including the symphony and chamber music orchestras. A decisive one-year stint at the jazz workshop and InterArts program in Banff finally allows him to concentrate entirely on improvisation and musical discovery. The artist, who admits that as a youth he always wanted to make music "differently", leaves classical music in order to explore new musical techniques and expressions.
