BIOGRAPHY
Praised for his "assured confidence, great flexibility, and innate musicianship" (Fanfare Magazine), cellist Bryan Hayslett continues to distinguish himself as a versatile solo, chamber, and orchestral player. Dr. Hayslett is currently Assistant Professor of Cello and Academic Studies at Middle Tennessee State University and serves as section cellist of the Palm Beach Opera. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2009 as first prize winner of the Alexander & Buono International String Competition and returned the following year as a repeat top prize laureate.
Dr. Hayslett is a proponent of new music, having founded and participated in Juxtatonal, Semiosis Quartet, and several other new music chamber groups across the New England area. His solo concert tours feature new music as a central focus, and he has commissioned composers including Joan La Barbara, Amy Beth Kirsten, Anthony Green, Drew Baker, David Macbride, and Annika Socolofsky. Additionally, he has premiered works with the Equilibrium Concert Series, The Fifth Floor Collective, and New Music Brandeis and has worked with composers such as Louis Andriessen, Joan Tower, Evan Ziporyn, Ted Hearne, and Yehudi Wyner. Dr. Hayslett can be heard on an Innova recording, "A Special Light," featuring music of David Macbride. His album Cello Unlocked was released in 2024 to critical acclaim across the globe and explores connections between music and language, including several tracks with him singing and playing.
As Executive Director of Bow and Bridge Society, a 501(c)3 nonprofit he founded, Dr. Hayslett helps to provide high-quality performance and learning opportunities to cellists by fostering and supporting an inclusive musical community around the world. The organization is working to encourage the next generation of cellists to think creatively and collaboratively by providing access to high-caliber artists in a cooperative environment.
As a scholar, Dr. Hayslett's Theory of Prominence, published by Cambridge University Press, suggests that listeners perceive rhythm in contemporary music in similar ways to how they perceive the rhythm of language. His focus on temporality in and perception of contemporary music was inspired by his study and performance of Lee Hyla's music. He has received several research grants and has presented his research at conferences across the United States and in Austria, Norway, and Portugal.
With degrees from NYU (Ph.D.), The Boston Conservatory (M.M., G.P.D.), and The Hartt School of Music (B.M.), Dr. Hayslett’s principal teachers include Marion Feldman, Rhonda Rider, Terry King, and Yuri Anshelevich. In addition to soloing with the Boston Conservatory Lab Orchestra, Dr. Hayslett has performed with groups such as Eighth Blackbird, the New York Arabic Orchestra, Ne(x)tworks, Experiments in Opera, Sound Icon, and the Boston Chamber Orchestra. He has collaborated with artists including Joseph Silverstein, David Kim, Carol Rodland, Scott Kluksdahl, and Lauren Flanigan. He has been artistic faculty at festivals including the Killington Music Festival and the Fox River Chamber Festival. Teaching residencies have included the University of South Florida and University of Wisconsin - Green Bay. Previously, he taught cello and music history as adjunct artist faculty at NYU Steinhardt. Dr. Hayslett performs on an American cello made by Gary Davis in 1998.
Beyond music, Hayslett competes in triathlons, cooks, and enjoys woodworking.
SHORT BIOGRAPHY
Praised for his "assured confidence, great flexibility, and innate musicianship" (Fanfare Magazine), cellist Bryan Hayslett teaches as Assistant Professor of Cello and Academic Studies at Middle Tennessee State University and serves as section cellist of the Palm Beach Opera. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2009 as first prize winner of the Alexander & Buono International String Competition and now focuses his performances on new music, frequently working with and commissioning living composers such as Joan La Barbara, Amy Beth Kirsten, and Anthony R. Green. He has performed with groups such as Eighth Blackbird, the New York Arabic Orchestra, Ne(x)tworks, Experiments in Opera, Sound Icon, New Music Brandeis, and the Boston Chamber Orchestra, and he holds degrees from NYU, The Hartt School of Music, and The Boston Conservatory. His album Cello Unlocked was released in 2024 to critical acclaim across the globe and explores connections between music and language, including several tracks with him singing and playing. As a scholar, Dr. Hayslett's Theory of Prominence, published by Cambridge University Press, suggests that listeners perceive rhythm in contemporary music in similar ways to how they perceive the rhythm of language. He has presented his research at conferences across the United States and in Austria, Norway, and Portugal. Dr. Hayslett performs on an American cello made by Gary Davis in 1998. Beyond music, he competes in triathlons and enjoys woodworking.