Anna Clift is founder and director of the International Cello Institute, where she collaborates with teachers and students from around the world. Passionate about teaching and educating, she is a much consulted teacher and acts as a mentor to many young cellists worldwide. During the academic year she teaches cello and chamber music at St. Olaf College. She has taught and performed in music schools and summer programs across the United States, including the Artaria Chamber Music School, Stringwood, Banff School of Fine Arts, Spoleto Festival, Washington Island Music Festival, Britt Music Festival, Taos International School of Music, and Madeline Island Music Camp. Anna has extensive orchestral experience, gained from playing as an extra player with the Minnesota Orchestra for many years. As a performer, she frequently collaborates in chamber concerts with musicians from the Minnesota Orchestra and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra as well as other groups around the Twin Cities. She has performed concerts with Gil Shaham, Awadajin Pratt, Sharon Isbin, the Artemis Trio, Artaria String Quartet, the Isles Ensemble, Paul Katz and the Cavani String Quartet. Teaching positions include, a one year replacement at Marshall University, Augsburg University and Carleton College. She frequently serves as a juror for competitions around the United States; including the Seattle Young Artists Festival, the Schubert Club Competition, and the Fischoff Competition. Anna grew up in Seattle Washington where she studied with Raymond Davis and Toby Saks. Her undergraduate years were spent at Indiana University with Janos Starker & Menahem Pressler. She received her MM Music degree from Stonybrook University where she was a student of Bernard Greenhouse and Timothy Eddy. Other teachers and mentors include Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Paul Tortelier, Gary Hoffman, and Joseph Gingold.