Theodore Buchholz

Theodore Buchholz is the Professor of Cello at the University of Arizona where he also serves as the Head of Strings and Founding Director of the University of Arizona String Project. He is the Co-Artistic Director of the Zephyr Music Festival and the Artistic Director of the Zephyr Chamber Music Academy in Italy.

Critically acclaimed for his “eloquent and expressive artistry” and “warm, beautiful sound,” Buchholz performs as a soloist and chamber musician in prominent venues from New York’s Lincoln Center to concert halls across the world, with performances and recordings broadcast on radio stations internationally. He performs on an exceptional cello made in 1877 by Charles Mennégand.

Buchholz’s album Afterglow (Centaur Records) earned the coveted five-star rating from Fanfare Magazine, which stated “Afterglow allows Buchholz to show off his impeccable phrasing during which he caresses each note. Its turns of phrase could simply not be more beautifully conceived and executed.” His recording of Hans Winterberg’s Cello Sonata was released under the Toccata label (United Kingdom), and he recorded Women’s Voices for Lorelt Records. The album Music for a Prince (Toccata Records) features the world premiere of works for cello by Lennox Berkeley, Arthur Bliss, and William Walton. His recording of Arnold Bax’s Folk Tale was released in 2025 by the Japanese label EM Records. He is a member of The Recording Academy (the Grammy Awards).

Dr. Buchholz’s current and former students perform in orchestras and chamber ensembles around the country, and they teach in schools and private studios around the world. His students have received scholarships from conservatories and have won awards in national solo and chamber competitions. They have appeared on NPR’s From the Top, as soloists with orchestras, and at leading festivals. Theodore Buchholz twice received the Taubeneck Superior Teaching Award and was awarded the Charles and Irene Putnam Award, the college’s most prestigious recognition of excellence in teaching.

Dr. Buchholz’s book The Cellist’s Guide to Scales and Arpeggios is internationally published by Mel Bay. Described by The Strad as “Comprehensive really is the word for this book… Everything you could want is here,” and Strings Magazine as “The Cellist’s Guide to Scales and Arpeggios by master teachers Theodore Buchholz and Robert Jesselson solves a problem the cello world has had for a long time: the lack of a comprehensive and explanatory scale book… There is no doubt that Buchholz and Jesselson’s work will become canonical.” He served as the Cello Forum Editor for the journal American String Teacher.

A fervent believer in the power of music to transform lives and communities, Dr. Buchholz is the Founding Director of the University of Arizona String Project. Over ten years, he steadily grew the program to 100 pre-college students and oversaw fifteen faculty members, including developing online curriculum during the COVID pandemic. Through his community relationships, Dr. Buchholz built an endowment for the program, enabling free private lessons for students who might otherwise have no exposure to music education. For this work, he received the College of Fine Arts Excellence in Fundraising Award.

As the Head of Strings at the University of Arizona, Buchholz elevated the program’s profile on the national level, built the award-winning chamber music program, significantly raised recruiting numbers, created the monthly UA Strings Newsletter, and developed annual competitions that celebrate excellence and promote repertoire by underrepresented composers. He founded the Tucson Cello Congress in 2009, which annually unites 100 cellists and has established a tradition of commissioning works for cello ensemble by underrepresented composers. He also served as President of the American String Teachers Association of Arizona.

For his work in Arizona, the U.S., and internationally, Theodore was selected as On Media’s 2026 Arts Hero.