Kevin Charlestream began studying violin at age three and cello at age four. At five, he made his first public solo appearance in the MMTA Junior Strings Competition, accompanied by Juilliard doctoral graduate Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse. Performing from memory, she mistakenly gave the piano introduction in a higher key. Charlestream instantly transposed the piece five notes higher on the spot —an extraordinary feat that drew immediate applause and ultimately earned him first prize.
Recognizing his exceptional talent, Rittenhouse—founder and director of the New England Youth Ensemble—invited Charlestream to perform internationally as a soloist with the orchestra, making him the youngest musician ever to appear with the ensemble. In 1992, at age twelve, he became a contracted member of the professional counterpart, New England Symphonic Ensemble with MidAmerica Productions at Carnegie Hall.
Trained in the lineage of legendary cellist Leonard Rose, Charlestream studied with George Seaman at the Longy School of Music and with Dieuwke Davydov at Middlebury College. He has performed extensively throughout Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the United States. Currently contracted with MidAmerica Productions, he has appeared in more than 400 concerts at Carnegie Hall with the New England Symphonic Ensemble, frequently serving as principal cellist and soloist.
Passionately sharing his learned performance secrets with his students for more than 30 years, they are some of today's notable cellists and Juilliard School graduates.
