Hometown:
Durham, NC
Education:
Yale University, B.S. in Chemistry, 2023
Spencer Adler studies with Professor Ole Akahoshi at Yale, where he serves as principal of the Yale Symphony Orchestra. During the orchestra’s 2023 tour of Mexico, Spencer was praised in El Periódico AM for his “excellent technique and expressivity.” Other honors include playing principal cello for the Aspen Music Festival production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, as well as collaborating with acclaimed violin soloists Jinjoo Cho and Hao Zhou.
What is something interesting that people may not know about you?
After every audition I take, I write a poem—often about the food I eat immediately upon finishing playing.
Name three of your favorite composers:
Johannes Brahms, Franz Schubert, Thelonious Monk
When taking a break from music-making, what is your favorite thing to do?
Hiking, running, or playing chess.
What are you most looking forward to this summer with the NRO?
I hope to gain a deeper appreciation for all of the symphonic repertoire we will perform this summer, and a deeper understanding of what great orchestral playing entails.