Molly Rife, Cello

A native of Tucson, Arizona, Molly Rife began playing the cello at age 11. Growing up in a family full of musicians, it was no surprise that she developed a passion for music as a youngster. Molly decided to brave the cold and is now an active performer and teacher in Chicago. Molly holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance from Arizona State University where she studied with Thomas Landschoot. She received her Master of Music degree in Performance from DePaul University under the tutelage of Stephen Balderston.

Molly currently holds a position with the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra and plays frequently with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and the New Philharmonic Orchestra. Molly is also a member of 42nd Parallel, a conductorless chamber orchestra founded by her colleagues in Chicago. An advocate of contemporary music, Molly has performed, recorded, and collaborated with many local Chicago composers and the contemporary ensemble Fonema Consort. Molly has performed at venues such as the Merle Reskin Theatre, Constellation, the Greenhouse Theatre, and the Redmoon Theatre.

Molly is enthusiastic about various genres of music. She has performed and recorded with local Chicago bands and artists, including the Grammy-nominated band Sidewalk Chalk, B Forrest, America's Got Talent Semifinalist Sharon Irving, Isaiah Oby, YONEE, and Aryk Crowder. She has also appeared on recordings for the Shedd Aquarium Aquatic show One World: Make a Difference, Sam I Am Film’s movie Scrooge and Marley, and Team Starkid’s album and production Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier. Molly has performed at many local Chicago venues, including the House of Blues, Double Door, and Martyrs. She has also performed at many local festivals, including the Logan Square Arts Festival, Classical Revolution, and the Wabash Arts Crawl.

In addition to performing, Molly loves to teach aspiring cellists of all ages. Along with City Strings, Molly currently teaches private cello lessons at Southport Performing Arts Conservatory and Terra Sounds School of Music and Arts. She has also taught at the Merit School of Music, Music For Kids, Sherry-Brener Ltd., and Linton Milano Music Center.