B i o g r a p h y
Peter "Pete" Jacobson is a cellist, producer, songwriter-singer, chamber musician, teacher, and father. In 2013 he won a Grammy for Best Latin Rock Alternative or Urban Album as a member of the group Quetzal. After more than a decade performing as the cellist for Pasadena's Southwest Chamber Music, he began to focus on original music. His ability to improvise and play by ear makes him a sought after studio musician across all genres. He releases original music under his birth name, and under the moniker Hellacello. Mr. Jacobson has recorded cello for Dr. Dre and frequently plays in the San Diego Symphony. He has been a soloist with Kamasi Washington and the West Coast Get Down, and has toured the world with Rhye. His solo cello can be heard in film and television, including The Walking Dead, Motherland, The Twighlight Zone. Pete has performed in the US, Mexico, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and Europe. He studied with Eleonore Schoenfeld at USC as well as at Cal Arts and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Pete plays regularly with Rhye, the Arohi Ensemble, Sangam Sitar + Cello, Talking Strings, Aux Cerna, Quartetto Fantastico, the Hutchins Consort, and many others.