Ethan Brown is a cellist from New York City currently pursuing a Doctorate on a fellowship through the CUNY Graduate Center under the guidance of Rafael Figueroa. Ethan earned his Master’s degree studying under Desmond Hoebig at Rice University and his Bachelor’s degree under the tutelage of Hans Jensen at Northwestern University. Over the years, Ethan has had the opportunity to work with a number of acclaimed musicians, including Yari Bond, Nicholas Tzavaras, Emmanuel Ax, Yo-Yo Ma, Roberto Díaz, among many others. Ethan has participated in summer music festivals including Spoleto Festival USA, Aspen, and the Tanglewood Music Center.

Currently, Ethan is a busy freelance cellist serving as an associate/substitute for the orchestras of the Metropolitan Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago and previously with the Houston Symphony. Ethan has performed on Broadway for Disney’s “Aladdin” and Steven Sondheim’s “Old Friends.” He is happy to be joining the Hartford Symphony in the 2025-26 season. As a teacher, Ethan guides a small private studio of young cellists and serves on the part-time faculty at Hunter College through his fellowship at the Graduate Center.

Ethan currently performs on a cello recently crafted by Belgian luthier Thomas Meuwissen and a bow by William Salchow. He is honored to have received the Tanglewood Music Center’s 2018 Karl Zeise Cello award as well as an award from the ASCAP Foundation.