Saul Richmond-Rakerd

Saul Richmond-Rakerd is a San Francisco-based cellist and member of San Francisco Ballet Orchestra since 2023.  At the age of nine, Saul began his cello studies in his hometown of Okemos, Michigan, and continued to study the instrument alongside piano until he completed high school.  He went on to Brown University, where he received degrees in both Physics and Anthropology.  While there, he also completed the Applied Music Program, served as principal cellist of the Brown University Orchestra, performed as a soloist, and played regularly with several chamber music groups. After graduating, Saul decided to immerse himself in music full-time, so after attending the Castleton Music Festival in 2013, he moved to Florence, Italy, to pursue a Biennio di Violoncello and to play professionally as principal cellist of the Orchestra Giovanile Italiana. After completing his diploma, he moved to San Francisco in 2015 and began a Master of Music degree at the San Francisco Conservatory under the tutelage of Jennifer Culp, a degree that he completed in December 2016.

Throughout his career, Saul has enjoyed playing in a wide range of settings. He has played as a concerto soloist with the Civic Symphony of San Francisco, Okemos Symphony Orchestra, and the Brown University Orchestra, as well as in numerous recitals, both in the US and abroad. He has been awarded First Prize at the Barbara Fritz Chamber Music Award (2016), First Prize at the Luigi Boccherini Chamber Music Competition in Lucca, Italy (2016), Second Prize at the Dorothy Van Waynen Competition for Strings (2016), Primo Arco Premio (2014), Weston Prize for the Arts (2013), and the Buxtehude Premium Prize in Music (2012).

Saul has been a member of many ensembles, both traditional and nontraditional, and is an active performer of chamber music throughout the Bay Area. He was a founding member of Luminance, a cello-harp-trumpet trio drawing on Latin, classical, and jazz roots, as well as the Capitoline Trio and Quattro alla Volta, a cello quartet he performed with during his time in Italy. He greatly enjoys playing in symphonic settings as well, and has played with many different orchestras throughout his career in music. Alongside his work with San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, he is an extra cellist with the San Francisco Opera, and currently serves as principal cellist of the Oakland Symphony, assistant principal cellist of the Santa Cruz Symphony, section cellist with the Monterey Symphony, and as co-principal cellist of One Found Sound.