Biography

Noted for his passionate and expressive playing, Dr. Adam Riggs is an avid chamber musician, teacher, and performer.  He has performed at music festivals across Canada, the United States, Italy, and the Czech Republic.  In addition to being the principal cellist of Stratus Chamber Orchestra, Adam is also a member of Boulder’s Green Room Artists and performs on occasion with the Boulder Philharmonic, as well as with Colorado-based dance company, Life/Art Dance Ensemble. In 2014, he wrote, performed, recorded and produced a 60 second aural dance for Life/Art that was aired on Colorado Public Radio’s “Radio Dances.” In May 2016 he was a guest soloist for the Western Springs School of Talent Education and Naperville Suzuki School’s 35th Anniversary concert at the Chicago Symphony Center.  Most recently, Adam created and produced the inaugural Colorado Cello Summit, an event geared towards strengthening and connecting Colorado’s cello community.

An avid teacher, Adam completed his Suzuki Teacher Training in 2016 with Carol Tarr at the University of Denver and Rick Mooney at the Greater Austin Suzuki Institute.  He currently teaches at Rockley Music in Lakewood and Silver Strings Academy in Westminster, while maintaining a robust private studio in Arvada.  Previously, he has taught for the continuing education department at the University of Colorado, at Parlando School of Musical Arts, and coached chamber music at the University of Colorado’s Summer Music Academy program. Adam also serves on the Board of Directors for the Suzuki Association of Colorado.

Adam began his cello studies at the age of four, and soon became a regular award winner at local and provincial competitions. He competed at the national level during his high school years before continuing his musical studies at University.  He holds a Bachelor of Music Honours Performance Degree and a Diploma in Chamber Music from Wilfrid Laurier University (Waterloo, Ontario), a Master of Music Performance degree from The Hartt School (Connecticut), and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from University of Colorado Boulder.  His principal teachers include Sally Gross, Paul Pulford, Simon Fryer, Mihai Tetel and Judith Glyde.  He has also studied with András Fejér, Thomas Heinrich, Aldo Parisot and Shauna Rolston. Adam has also performed and worked with members of the Takacs, St. Lawrence, Emerson, Juilliard, Tokyo, and Penderecki String Quartets.  

In addition to his musical endeavors, Adam is owner and photographer at AR Pictures (http://www.adamriggspictures.com), and resides in Denver with his wife, Jessica.