The Portland Cello Project was formed in 2006 when a group of 9 cellists came together for a fun one-off gig to perform Western classical music in an informal setting. In the ensuing years, the Portland Cello Project has evolved into a nationally recognized performing, recording, and educational group.
Under the artistic direction of Douglas Jenkins, the group has built an impressive repertoire, played in every type of venue imaginable—from punk rock clubs to symphony halls—and collaborated with notable PNW cellists like Nancy Ives, Gideon Freudmann, and Diane Chaplin. Jenkins developed a three-part guiding philosophy for the group: 1) Bring the cello places you wouldn’t usually see it, 2) Perform music on the cello you wouldn’t normally associate with the instrument, and 3) Build bridges between different musical communities through collaborations and community outreach.