Equally at home performing in front of a crowded club, or on the concert stages of prestigious classical music halls across the United States and abroad, Josiah Altschuler's music summons a raw, primal energy, fused with a sophisticated, virtuoso technique. Although rooted in American Primitive music, he uses both cello and guitar to bridge many seemingly disparate genres into cohesive solo performances. His stage appearances balance an intelligent process of experimentation with pure and simple entertainment.

In 2006 Josiah quit his job as a computational biologist at Harvard University i... (+) expand

Equally at home performing in front of a crowded club, or on the concert stages of prestigious classical music halls across the United States and abroad, Josiah Altschuler's music summons a raw, primal energy, fused with a sophisticated, virtuoso technique. Although rooted in American Primitive music, he uses both cello and guitar to bridge many seemingly disparate genres into cohesive solo performances. His stage appearances balance an intelligent process of experimentation with pure and simple entertainment.

In 2006 Josiah quit his job as a computational biologist at Harvard University in order to become a professional musician. Having had no experience in playing classical guitar, he began to learn its intricacies at a prodigious rate, and to accompany his brother, violinist Emil Altschuler, on both the East and West coasts of the United States, and in Italy. Together, they arranged and performed pieces from Paganini, to John Zorn to Primus, presenting their work in many performing arts centers and classical concert series.

He now accompanies various musicians, and performs as a soloist, carving his own niche by presenting hybrid shows of folk, rock and classical music. A typical solo performance will cross over a wide variety of genres, from the ancient to the modern, incorporating several instruments. He has adapted a guitar-like fingerpicking technique to the cello, which brings a gothic, twisted and haunting signature sound to his music.

Josiah is currently recording his debut CD, "Murder Ballads and Love Songs for Cello and Voice," which will be available in June, 2008. (-) collapse