B3LLA Piano Trio

music that inspires

San Francisco, CA USA

BELLA's MISSION is to connect people to themselves, each other, and their communities through professional live music performances of the highest standards, reflecting shared human emotions and experiences.  BELLA sees their role as artists as inspiring people from diverse backgrounds to cherish the beauty in themselves and others.

BELLA is committed to being socially responsible and engaged artists in their community.  Towards this end, they donate a portion of all of their donations to non-profit community organizations, including those dedicated to helping people and families affected by breast cancer.

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Cellist ERIC GAENSLEN has performed as a chamber musician, recitalist and guest soloist in venues across North America and Europe. Eric has performed at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Library of Congress, the Berlin Konzerthaus, and at the Spoleto Italy, Maverick and Vail Bravo Music Festivals, with such artists as Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Eugenia Zuckerman, Gautier Capuçon and Pepe Romero. Recent solo highlights include the world premiere of Siddartha for cello and string orchestra by Laura Carnibucci, and a performance of Bloch's Shelomo at New York's Avery Fisher Hall. From 2009-2011, Eric held the position of Acting Principal Cellist of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.

A devoted educator, Eric, has given master classes in cello and chamber music across the country, including University of Missouri, Kansas City; State University New York at Purchase; California State Universities at Fresno, Northridge and Long Beach; Univerty of Western Washington and Brevard Music Center. He has held faculty positions at the Mannes College in New York and at the University of California, Santa Cruz and maintains a private studio.  

Eric holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and a Master of Arts degree from the Juilliard School of Music. His teachers have included Joel Krosnick, Robert Mann, Felix Galimir, Aldo Parisot, William Pleeth and Irene Sharp.

He is Bay Area native, raised in Burlingame, CA and now lives in Millbrae, CA with his wife, Jessica, an oboe player and their beautiful and brilliant son, Theo.