Cellist Alan Toda-Ambaras is an electrifying artist whose performances fuse technical command, imagination, and civic purpose. He has collaborated with Midori, Yo-Yo Ma, and members of the Silk Road Ensemble; appeared twice as soloist with the North Carolina Symphony; and earned distinction as a prize-winner at the 2005 Rostropovich International Cello Competition in Paris. His concert credits include Tokyo’s Oji Hall, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, where his ensemble, the Frost Piano Quartet, made its debut.

A devoted champion of contemporary creation, Alan has premiered works by Trevor Bača and Stephanie Ann Boyd and curates programs that place core repertoire in conversation with living voices. His playing is marked by lyrical intensity, structural clarity, and a fearless sense of color, inviting audiences into performances that feel both deeply considered and vividly alive.

Alan’s commitment to the public square shapes his leadership offstage as well. He co-founded the Eureka Ensemble and Project LENS, initiatives that connect music with interdisciplinary storytelling, social action, and community partnership. Through workshops and talks, he explores the intersections of music, history, and the humanities, opening doors for new listeners and new ideas.

Alan holds a B.A. in History of Art and Architecture from Harvard and an M.M. from the New England Conservatory, where he studied with Laurence Lesser.