André Emelianoff 1942-2020

Cellist André Emelianoff lost his 10 year battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy on May 30th, 2020. Born in Sea Cliff, Long Island in 1942, he attended North Shore High School and the Juilliard School, where he studied with Luigi Silva and Leonard Rose. He played in the Cleveland Orchestra under George Szell, served as principal cellist with the New Jersey Symphony under Henry Lewis, as well as the New York Chamber Symphony, the Waterloo, and the White Mountains Festival Orchestras under the direction of Gerard Schwarz. As an advocate of contemporary music and a member of Da Capo Chamber Players for over 30 years, he commissioned and premiered works by composers such as Joan Tower, Aaron Kernis, Shulamit Ran, and George Perle. In addition to his highly expressive playing, he was known for his innovative thematic programming and his insightful program notes.
A dedicated and inspiring teacher, André taught for over 25 years at the Juilliard School, Bard College, the City College of NY, Bowdoin Summer Music Festival, the White Mountains and Round Top Festivals, and the Salzburg Mozarteum. An enthusiastic world traveler, his concert and teaching tours took him to China, France, Israel, Russia and included a United States State Department sponsored tour of Central Asia as a cultural ambassador.
In the last 3 years he enjoyed the devoted and skilled care of "Right at Home" aides, and more recently, Ennoble hospice.
He is survived by his loving wife, hornist and teacher Amy Larkey-Emelianoff, director of Instrumental Music at Newark Academy in Livingston, N.J. Known for his love of opera and lieder, his quirky sense of humor, his obtuse wordplay, and his endearing gentleness, kindness, and charm, André Emelianoff is survived by 9 siblings, and hundred of adoring students.