Praised for his “virtuosity, refinement, and style” (South Florida Classical Review), cellist Austin Fisher is a versatile chamber musician, orchestral player, and soloist. He is the former Assistant Principal Cello of the Colorado Symphony – having served from 2014-2018, including a season as Acting Principal in 2016/17. He made his solo debut with the Symphony on tour in 2016, performing Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1.
In demand as a chamber musician, Austin is the cellist of the Tesla Quartet, now in its 17th season. The Tesla Quartet builds upon years of early success at numerous competitions including multiple top prizes at the prestigious 2016 Banff International String Quartet Competition, 2015 International Joseph Haydn Chamber Music Competition, and 2012 Wigmore Hall London International String Quartet Competition. They now perform regularly across North America and Europe, with recent highlights including their debut at Lincoln Center, a return to Wigmore Hall, and performances at Stanford University’s Bing Concert Hall as winners of the prestigious John Lad Prize.
Austin has performed and recorded with artists and ensembles spanning a variety of genres including Jon Batiste, Vampire Weekend, The Eagles, 2Cellos, Seal, the Miró Quartet, the Miami String Quartet, and the Minnesota Orchestra.
He was a grant recipient from the Solti Foundation to attend IMS Prussia Cove, and other recent festival appearances include the Strings Music Festival, Lakes Area Music Festival, and Pacific Music Festival.
Before joining the Tesla Quartet, Austin worked in business development at the contract management software company, Ironclad, which was co-founded by fellow cellist, Cai GoGwilt, and is now making great strides in the development of AI for business contracts and contract law.
Austin is currently pursuing his MMA at the Yale School of Music, studying under Paul Watkins of the Emerson Quartet. He graduated with a BM from the Eastman School of Music before receiving a master’s degree from Northwestern University. His other primary teachers are Steven Doane and Hans Jensen.
Austin resides in New Haven, CT and plays on a French cello made by Francois Caussin, 1830.