Education
Dr. Joseph Gotoff received his DMA from New England Conservatory, where he focused his academic research on the musicological exploration of Beethoven’s manuscripts, examining expressive markings in the autographs. Starting with the late string quartets, Joseph is working to develop the results of his research into a digital, layered score for performers and scholars. Before his doctoral studies, he received a BA in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University and his MM in Cello Performance from the New School’s Mannes College of Music.
Performance Experience
Cellist Joseph Gotoff is highly sought-after as a chamber musician, scholar, and teacher. As a founding member of several ensembles, including the award-winning Petrucci String Quartet, his performances have taken him across Europe and as far as China. Joseph’s musical interests range from historically informed Baroque performance practice to contemporary music, and he has given world premieres of several important works, including Lowell Liebermann’s Piano Trio (2013) and Binna Kim’s Shibboleth for solo cello (2016).
Joseph released his debut album, The Voice of the Cello, to critical acclaim in 2020, and in 2021, he helped to found the Washington Arts Ensemble, a chamber music collective dedicated to placing the works of women and minority composers alongside stalwarts of the chamber music canon, in residence at the Arts Club of Washington.
Teaching Experience
In addition to his teaching at Levine, Joseph was appointed to the faculty of Towson University in 2022 as Assistant Professor of Cello. Before joining the Towson faculty as a lecturer in 2021, Joseph also taught cello performance at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and Merrimack College.
Joseph also has an extensive background teaching elementary through high school students, beginning with working in El Sistema programs in the Boston area.
At Levine
Joseph joined Levine’s cello faculty in 2019 and teaches a variety of our cello programs.
Teaching Philosophy
“Teaching is unlike any other job; it requires great compassion, respect, leadership, flexibility, patience, and of course, knowledge. A great teacher is responsible not only for guiding learning in a particular subject, but for also instilling positive values in students, reinforcing their self-worth, and serving as a mentor as they grow into professionals. My teaching philosophy is based on getting my students to become inquisitive, self-sufficient learners, and critical thinkers through questioning and guided self-examination.”
More About Joseph
When not at the cello, you might find Joseph enjoying cooking, exploring home renovations and sculpture, hiking, and spending time with family. Learn more about Joseph on his website.