NEAL CARY has been praised for his “robust tone and high-romantic phrasing,” and the “tremendous amount of emotion and heart” he brings to his performances. He has been principal cellist with the Richmond Symphony since 1988 and has served as principal cellist of the Williamsburg Symphony since 2002. In 1984, he joined EMF’s faculty and has served as principal cellist since 1988. In August 2012 and 2016, Cary performed in the All-Star Orchestra. Before moving to Richmond, Cary was co-principal cellist of the Kansas City Philharmonic, assistant principal cellist of the Tulsa Philharmonic, the San Antonio Symphony and the Denver Symphony orchestras. From 1994-1998, he was adjunct faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University. While a student at Juilliard, he was a chamber music teaching assistant to Earl Carlyss and Claus Adam. While a student at Meadowmount, he was a chamber music teaching assistant to Joseph Gingold. In addition to his symphony work, Cary maintains a large private teaching studio and has been a member of the performing artist faculty at the College of William and Mary since 1991. An avid chamber musician, he has performed with many world-famous musicians at EMF and has been a member of the Richmond Chamber Players since 1989.
Neal is married to Catherine Cary, violinist with the Richmond Symphony and EMF. They have two children – daughter Emma, a cellist, and son Alan, a violinist.