Professor of Cello Gregory Sauer joined the College of Music in 2006. A native of Davenport, Iowa, Gregory Sauer attended the Eastman School of Music and the New England Conservatory. His principal teachers included Ada Marie Snyder, Charles Wendt, Paul Katz, Laurence Lesser, Bonnie Hampton and Colin Carr. For eleven years prior to his arrival at FSU Sauer taught at the University of Oklahoma, where he was named Presidential Professor (2005).

Praised for his versatility, Sauer performs in many different musical arenas. He has appeared in recital at the Old First Concert Series in San Francisco, Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, Brightmusic Concert Series in Oklahoma City, and at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall. Sauer was a prizewinner in the Hudson Valley Philharmonic and Ima Hogg National competitions, and has performed concertos with many orchestras including the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, Quad City Symphony, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, and Columbus (GA) Symphony. Sauer currently holds the positions of principal cello of the Tallahassee Symphony and assistant principal of the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra. Sauer also served nine seasons as principal cellist of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra.

A passion for chamber music compelled Sauer to co-found Trio Solis with Read Gainsford and Corinne Stillwell; since the group’s inception, they have performed throughout the U.S., including Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall. Their first CD, recorded for MSR Classics, contains music of Arno Babajanian, Jean Francaix and Paul Schoenfield.

Sauer’s other chamber music ventures have resulted in festival appearances at Tanglewood, Austin Chamber Music Center, Victoria Bach Festival, Texas Music Festival, Colorado Music Festival and Garth Newel Music Center. Sauer founded and served as co-Artistic Director of Chamber Music Quad Cities for thirteen years.