CELLObration

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CELLObration 2025: September 12-13, 2025

The South Carolina Cello Choir Weekend has been an important annual tradition for Palmetto-state cellists since 1980. In its early years, the event alternated between the University of South Carolina and Furman University. More recently, it has also been hosted at other institutions around the state.

The CELLObration weekend offers a chance for cellists of all ages from near-beginners to professionals to celebrate their love of the cello by playing together. Participants need to be able to read music.

Hosted by Furman’s cello professor, Christopher Hutton, this year’s clinicians will include Prof. Eric Kutz (University of Maryland) and Seth Russell (South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities).

Save your spot by registering now!

Registration information is further down this page.

Sponsors

Registration fees only cover part of the costs for CELLObration. It would therefore not be possible without generous support from sponsors including:

Some sponsors will have cellos and bows to try and purchase and cases, music, and accessories on sale. There may be no better opportunity to try different cellos together in one place. Please support our sponsors and thank them for their patronage!

Location

All events are on the campus of Furman University (3300 Poinsett Hwy, Greenville, SC 29613) in the Daniel Music Building and McAlister Auditorium. 

A campus map is available here: http://campusmap.furman.edu

Parking is free.

For those participants traveling from out of town, a list of hotels with Furman rates is located here: https://www.furman.edu/younts/local-accommodations/

Planned Schedule

Friday, September 12

  • 3:00-7:00 – Check-in (Daniel Music Building)
  • 3:30-7:30 – Master Classes (Daniel Music Building)
  • 8:00-9:15 – Faculty/Guest Artist Recital (Daniel Recital Hall, Daniel Music Building) [Additional tickets $20 adults/$10 students]

Saturday, September 13

  • 8:30-9:00 – Check-in and prepare for rehearsal (McAlister Auditorium)
  • 9:00-5:00 – Rehearsal and clinics (McAlister Auditorium and Daniel Music Building)
  • 5:30-6:30 – CELLObration Closing concert (McAlister Auditorium) [Free – no tickets required!]

Registration

**Registration is available on the form at the bottom of this page.**

So we can fit everyone on stage, registration will be capped. As of September 5th, we are at full capacity and have started a waiting list for Friday-Saturday and Saturday-only registrations. Please email [email protected] to be placed on the waiting list. If a slot opens before Friday, September 12, you will be contacted and given a pass code to access the registration form.

Fees

  • $60 for Regular registration (Friday and Saturday; includes master classes and a ticket to the Friday concert)
  • $45 for Saturday-only registration.
  • $5 early-bird discount for registrations completed by Friday, August 29
  • FREE $0 registration for teachers bringing students.
  • FREE Admission to the CELLObration closing concert (no tickets required)
  • FREE for non-participant family members to attend and observe master classes
  • Additional tickets to the 8 p.m. Friday evening Faculty/Guest Artist concert are $20 for adults and $10 for students (one free ticket included with Friday/Saturday registration).
  • Prepaid meals in Furman’s Dining Hall are available at a discounted rate (see below).

Friday Master Classes

Our guest clinicians will be leading master classes on the afternoon of Friday, September 12. A master class is like a public lesson in which you perform a solo piece of your choosing. You can sign up to perform on a class as part of registration. Those who register by August 29 will receive priority placement. Additional players will be added after that date on a space-available basis.

CELLObration participants who are not performing in master classes are strongly encouraged to attend as observers.

Master classes are included in regular Friday/Saturday registration. There is no additional cost to play on a master class or to attend as an observer.

Accompanists are not required, but you may bring a pianist if you would like. If you are going to perform a work with accompaniment and would like help engaging a professional pianist, then we will be happy to put you in contact with a pianist and help to coordinate a short rehearsal on the day of the class. There would be a cost, paid directly to the pianist.

Friday Faculty Recital

At 8 p.m. on Friday, September 12, our guest clinicians and host will present a cello recital in the Daniel Recital Hall of Furman’s Daniel Music Building. All event participants who have signed up for regular registration (Friday/Saturday) will receive one admission ticket for the recital.

Additional tickets to the recital are $20 for adults and $10 for students. They can be purchased in advance with your registration and will be held at will call under your name. Additional tickets will be available for purchase at the door on a space-available basis.

Saturday Cello Choir Rehearsals and Closing Concert

A detailed schedule for Saturday, September 13 will be made available closer to the date. Check-in will take place from 8:30-9:00 a.m. to be followed at by a day of cello ensemble rehearsals and technique clinics for students, beginning at 9 a.m. Those events will culminate in a closing concert at 5:30 p.m. in McAlister Auditorium. Admission to that concert is FREE and open to the public.

Meals

There will be breaks in the schedule on Friday for dinner and Saturday for lunch. There are on-campus choices (walking distance; cashless payments only) and off-campus options (driving distance). Participants are also encouraged to consider bringing a bag lunch to enjoy on Furman’s beautiful campus. It is possible to prepay for Dinner and/or Lunch as part of your registration at a cost of $14/meal, which reflects a discount from the walk-up price.

Contact

For questions about the event please contact Prof. Christopher Hutton at [email protected].

Registration Form