Hailed by The Guardian as “a cellist of power and grace” who possesses “mature artistry and willingness to go to the brink,” three-time GRAMMY®-nominated cellist Seth Parker Woods has established his reputation as a versatile artist and innovator across multiple genres. As The New York Times wrote, “Woods is an artist rooted in classical music, but whose cello is a vehicle that takes him, and his concertgoers, on wide-ranging journeys.” Also at the forefront of fashion, Woods has topped “Best Dressed” lists in Variety, Women’s Wear Daily, Texas Monthly, and OC Register. Woods has served on the faculty of Thornton School of Music at The University of Southern California since 2022 and was appointed to the Robert Mann Chair in Strings and Chamber Music in 2024. He received the 2022 Chamber Music America Michael Jaffee Visionary Award.
In the 2024-2025 season, Woods debuted with the New York Philharmonic in a new concerto by Nathalie Joachim and with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a new concerto by Julia Adolphe. A core member of the music collective Wild Up, Woods was nominated for a 2025 GRAMMY® Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo for his performance in the group’s Eastman Vol. 4: The Holy Presence, as well as a 2023 Award for Best Orchestral Performance for their album Eastman Vol. 2: Joy Boy. During the 2023-2024 season, Woods brought his GRAMMY®-nominated, autobiographical tour-de-force Difficult Grace to New York City, Chicago, San Diego, and Philadelphia. The album released on Cedille Records was nominated for a 2024 GRAMMY® Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo.
In addition to solo performances, Woods has appeared with the Atlanta and Seattle Symphonies, in chamber music with artists such as Hilary Hahn and pianist Andreas Haefliger, and with European ensembles including ICTUS Ensemble, Ensemble L’Arsenale, zone Experimental, among others. A fierce advocate for contemporary arts, Woods has collaborated with artists representing the classical, popular music, and visual art worlds.
In addition to his post at The University of Southern California, Woods serves on the artist faculty of the Music Academy of the West each summer and previously served as Artist in Residence with Kaufman Music Center and the Seattle Symphony. He holds degrees from Brooklyn College, Musik Akademie der Stadt Basel, and a PhD from the University of Huddersfield.
Woods is a Pirastro Artist and endorses Pirastro Perpetual Strings worldwide. Learn more at www.sethparkerwoods.com.