BRISBANE, CA, March 23, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Michael Grebanier with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Mr. Grebanier celebrated many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
"Michael Grebanier joined the San Francisco Symphony as Principal Cello in 1977 and played an influential role in shaping the sound of his section for the ensuing four decades. A musician of powerful technique and deep musical knowledge, Grebanier brought a gruff and sometimes robust intensity to his playing," Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle. A list of his solo appearances with SFS reads like a catalogue of the landmarks of cello repertoire including many SFS premieres. It was very important for him to have in his contract one or two solo weeks each season. "Michael Grebanier was, at his best, a formidable musical force" Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas said in a statement "He played with the strength of at least three players and made an important contribution to the SFS."
Margaret Tait, a longtime member of the section described Grebanier as "one of the greatest principal cellists." "He was an active advocate for the Musicians Union and for our cello section." She also said he "inspired admiration and loyalty among the ranks of the orchestra's cello players" and that "his sound was rich, beautifully resonate and instantly recognizable."
After 4 years as a member of George Szell's Cleveland Orchestra, he was appointed Principal Cello of the Pittsburgh Symphony at 25 years of age, the youngest person to hold that position in the orchestra's history. He taught at many conservatories but most enjoyed coaching talented young artists.
According to his wife, Sharon Grebanier, he was inspired to pursue a musical career when his father brought home a recording of Villa-Lobos' 'Bachianas Brasileiras' featuring the New York Philharmonic Principal Cellist, Leonard Rose. By thirteen years of age he was studying with Carl Ziegler of Toscanini's NBC Symphony. Grebanier went on to study with Rose at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. At age 19, he won the Walter Naumberg Competition and made his New York recital debut.
While in Cleveland he was a member of the Concert Arte Trio with Arnold Steinhardt and Patricia Parr. In Pittsburgh he was in the Carnegie Mellon Trio and appeared on Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, which to some he is most famous for.
With Janet Guggenheim, he recorded "Rachmaninoff Complete Works for Cello and Piano" and "Prokofiev's Cello and Piano Sonata" For decades with Jorja Fleezanis, Garrick Ohlsson and Grebanier they played many concerts as the FOG TRIO. He was further affiliated with the Marlboro Music Festival and The Casals Festival in Puerto Rico.
When not playing, Grebanier and his wife, a violinist in the orchestra, spent quality time on their sailboat with many vacations and coastal sailing. In a 2007 profile, Grebanier noted "I'm very grateful to have spent a lifetime doing the type of work that I do. I'm able to play wonderful music and to face huge challenges, which are always great to rise to and to meet and to succeed in. I'm grateful that I do something that is spiritually valid for people, and that I enjoy. I love the rewards, and I love the music."
For most of his career, he played a cello made in 1698 by Francesco Ruggeri (1628-1698).
The recent International Music Company editions of the Schumann and Elgar Concertos were dedicated to Michael Grebanier.
He is survived by his wife, his two sons with Patricia Parr, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
View a performance at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG_Z57HUuKE
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