wesley
skinner

As a doctoral candidate at Arizona State University, Cellist Wesley Skinner is completing a DMA having served as the Teaching Assistant of Tom Landschoot. Additionally, Wesley holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied with Melissa Kraut and later joined the preparatory faculty.

Wesley’s solo competition wins include the 2014 Cleveland Institute of Music Concerto Competition, 2015 Paducah Symphony Young Artist Competition (KY), 2015 Tennessee Cello Workshop, 2015 Lewisville Lake Symphony International String Competition (TX) second prize, and the 2016 ASU Concerto Competition. As an active chamber musician, he serves as a cellist and founding member of the Laniakea String Quartet which recently won first prize in The (2019) Hong Kong International Chamber Music Competition. In 2020, Wesley was invited to join the faculty at Montecito International Chamber Music Festival as well as the Interharmony Summer Music Festival and School.

As a composer, Wesley won the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 ariZoni Theater Awards of Excellence in Original Music Composition for his score of Frankenstein as well as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with TheaterWorks in Peoria, AZ. As a trained instructor in the Suzuki method and music theory, Wesley utilizes his diverse experience and conservatory training to teach a range of students ages and styles in his private studio now in excess of 35 students.