John Sant’Ambrogio

John was principal cellist with the U.S. Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra (1956 to 1958), and then played with the Boston Symphony Orchestra (1959 to 1968). He was cellist with the Boston Piano Trio (1965 to 1968). He was principal cellist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (1968 to 2005) under music directors Walter Susskind, Jerzy Semkow, and Leonard Slatkin.

John has played cello with the St. Louis String Quartet, the Giavanni String Quartet, and Washington University’s Eliot Trio. He was also principal cellist with the Casals Festival Orchestra (in 1969 and 1970) and with the Grand Teton Music Festival, Jackson Hole, Wyoming (1980 to 1985). John has also been cellist with the Zimbler Sinfonietta and was principal cello with the Boston Ballet Orchestra.  

He has been a private cello instructor since 1959, and former pupils have obtained positions in major orchestras including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. He has taught at Boston University (1963 to 1965), Washington University in St. Louis (1970 to 1974), the Grand Teton Music Seminar (1980 to 1985), the St. Louis Conservatory of Music (1985 to 1989), and at the Mountain Team Concepts Music Camp (founder and director, 1992 to 1996).

John is founder (2003) and Artistic Director of the Arts for the Soul Summer Vacation Retreat in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.