Prior to joining the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Toronto native Alastair Eng served as Associate Principal Cello of The Canadian Opera Company for seven seasons. He has performed as Guest Principal Cello with The Santa Fe Opera as well as The National Arts Centre Orchestra (Ottawa, Canada). His playing has been described by critics as “exquisite” (Broadway World), “a highlight” (The Classical Review), and “songfully performed” (The National Post).

 

Mr. Eng has worked extensively with the Grammy nominated chamber orchestra A Far Cry (Boston, MA), in addition to The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, The National Ballet of Canada Orchestra, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra (UK). As a chamber musician he has appeared at Ravinia Festival, Ottawa Chamberfest, Rockport Chamber Music Festival, Strings Music Festival, and Santa Fe Chamber Music.

 

When not performing, Mr. Eng enjoys devoting his time to 

arranging music of all kinds for a wide variety of instrumentations. His scores have been heard across North America and Europe, in venues as varied as the Musikverein and Fenway Park. He has received commissions from violinist Augustin Hadelich, guitarist Pablo Villegas, ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, and A Far Cry, among many others. His arrangements have been called “sweet” (Boston Globe), “delightfully schmalzy” (The Boston Musical Intelligencer), and "serious and surreal" (Strings Magazine).

 

As an educator Mr. Eng has led cello sectionals for the Boston Youth Philharmonic and the Taylor Performance Academy of the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), and the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. He has served on the faculty of Four Strings Academy (Boston, MA) and was Assistant Conductor of the RCM’s Community School Orchestra. He has participated in clinics and outreach programs across the United States, and has maintained a

private teaching studio in Toronto since 2010.

 

Mr. Eng earned his Master of Music with Honors from The New England Conservatory, and holds a Performance Diploma from the RCM. He spent two years in Western Canada sharing his time between The Mount Royal Conservatory and The Banff Centre. His principal teachers were Lawrence Lesser and John Kadz.