Saul Richmond-Rakerd, cello

Saul Richmond-Rakerd is a San Francisco-based cellist, and member of the San Francisco
Ballet Orchestra since 2023.  At the age of 9, Saul began his cello studies in his hometown of
Okemos, Michigan, and continued to study it alongside piano until he concluded high
school.  He went on to Brown University, where he received degrees in both Physics and
Anthropology.  While there, he also completed the Applied Music Program, served as
principal of the Brown University Orchestra, performed as a soloist, and played regularly
with several chamber music groups. After graduating, Saul decided to immerse himself in
music full-time, and so, after attending the Castleton Music Festival in 2013, he moved to
Florence, Italy to pursue a Biennio di Violoncello, and to play professionally as principal
cellist of the Orchestra Giovanile Italiana.  After completion of his diploma, he moved to San
Francisco in 2015 in order to begin a Master of Music degree at the San Francisco
Conservatory under the tutelage of Jennifer Culp – a degree that he completed in December
2016. 
Throughout his career, Saul has enjoyed playing in a wide range of settings.  He has played
as a concerto soloist with the Okemos Symphony Orchestra and the Brown University
Orchestra, as well as in numerous recitals, both in the US and abroad. He has been awarded
First Prize at the Barbara Fritz Chamber Music Award (2016), First Prize at the Luigi
Boccherini Chamber Music Competition in Lucca, Italy (2016), Second Prize at the Dorothy
Van Waynen Competition for Strings (2016), Primo Arco Premio (2014), Weston Prize for the
Arts (2013), and the Buxtehude Premium Prize in Music (2012).  Saul has been a member of
many ensembles, both traditional and non. He is an active performer of chamber music
throughout the Bay Area, and he is also currently a member of Luminance, a cello-harp-
trumpet trio drawing on latin, classical, and jazz roots. He was a founding member of both
the Capitoline Trio and Quattro alla Volta, a cello quartet with whom he performed during
his time in Italy.  He greatly enjoys playing in symphonic settings as well, and has played
with many different orchestras throughout his career in music. Alongside his work with San
Francisco Ballet, he is an extra cellist with the San Francisco Opera, and currently serves as
assistant principal cellist in the Santa Cruz Symphony, section cellist with the Monterey
Symphony, and as co-principal cellist of One Found Sound.