Baroque Cello

A versatile and adventurous performer, Colleen McGary-Smith appears throughout New England on historical and modern cellos as well as viola da gamba. Colleen is a member of the Handel and Haydn Society, with whom she has recorded on the Coro Label. She also performs with Emmanuel Music.

Past season highlights include performances with Boston Baroque, Vista Philharmonic, The Berry Collective, Les Bostonades, Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, Boston Lyric Opera, Newton Baroque, Columbus Symphony, Canton Symphony, Erie Philharmonic, and the Washington Bach Consort. Colleen has also performed on viola gamba with NYC renaissance ensemble Sonnambula.

Tutti Bassi, Colleen’s duo with baroque cellist Sarah Freiburg, explores the rich repertoire of baroque cello Sonatas and duos. Their debut recording, Have Cello Will Travel, was released in September 2023 on the Centaur Label.

Colleen is a dedicated cello teacher and enthusiastic chamber music instructor. She currently teaches at Concord Academy. She also maintains a private studio in Littleton, MA. Previous positions include teaching appointments at the New England Conservatory Preparatory Department and the Community Music School of Boston, Powers Music School and the Acton Public Schools. Colleen believes that music is for everyone and accepts students of all levels – ages 3 to 103!

Born into a musical family, Colleen began her cello studies at the age of 5 in St. Catherines, Ontario Canada. She attended classes at the Eastman School of Music Preparatory Department and went on to receive her Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied with renowned pedagogue Alan Harris. After graduation, Colleen continued studies with Alan Harris and Richard Aaron while teaching in the Preparatory Department of CIM. She received her Master of Music degree from Boston University where her primary instructors were Andres Diaz on modern cello and Alice Robbins on baroque cello and viola da gamba.