Britton Riley, cello
Canadian-American cellist Britton Riley enjoys a rich and diverse career as a performer, teacher, and artistic director. Prior to joining the National Symphony Orchestra in 2019, he served as Assistant Principal Cello of the Calgary Philharmonic and a member of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 2014-2019.
Dr. Riley has recorded for film, television, and radio and performed at venues throughout the world including Carnegie Hall, Berlin Philharmonie, Lincoln Center, Vienna's Konzerthaus, and Smetana Hall in Prague. Recent season highlights included Brahms' Double Concerto with his sister, Meredith Riley, and the Washington Metro Philharmonic, as well as performances with the Sphinx Virtuosi, Minnesota Orchestra, Gateways Festival Orchestra, and Colorado Music Festival Orchestra.
Dr. Riley holds a bachelor’s degree in Cello Performance and Music Industry from the University of Southern California and earned masters and doctorate degrees in Cello Performance from the University of Michigan, where he served as teaching assistant to Richard Aaron. Additional primary influences have included Eleonore Schoenfeld, Raphael Wallfisch, Miklós Perényi, Gilda Barston, and Nancy Hair. Following the completion of his graduate studies, he was named an inaugural Rebanks Fellow at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
Dr. Riley is sought after as a juror and guest faculty member, with recent engagements at The Royal Conservatory of Music, University of Denver, UC Boulder, Mount Royal University, SphinxConnect, and The National Academy Orchestra of Canada. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra in Ithaca, NY, and is the Founding Artistic Director of Chamber Music at New Park, an annual series that promotes cross-border collaboration between Canadian and American musicians. In 2018, he was awarded an MPower Artist Award from the Sphinx Organization to further its mission.
Britton currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife, NSO cellist Eugena Chang Riley, and their two dogs. Among his many interests, he enjoys traveling, nature, cooking, hiking, and photography.
