Richard Hotchkiss , Cellist
Mr. Hotchkiss knew he wanted to be a musician well before he started at age 8 in the Philadelphia School System. He has studied with Hirofumi Kano of Temple University and Harold Gorodetzer of the Philadelphia Orchestra during his time at Central High School. After high school, Mr. Hotchkiss attended Philadelphia College of Performing Arts, which has since become the University of the Arts, where he studied with Jazz Violinist John Blake, Loren Munroe of the New York Philharmonic and Mihalay Virizlay of the Baltimore Symphony. Mr. Hotchkiss earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Violoncello Performance.
Known for his eclectic abilities to perform classical music as well as pop music, Mr Hotchkiss has been able to crossover between both industries. In 2002, he performed on the Grammy® Award winning movie soundtrack to Standing In The Shadows of Motown.
In addition to performing, Mr. Hotchkiss has provided leadership or has provided musicians for clients ranging from touring rock bands to a small private event.
As a cello teacher, he teaches privately at his studio in Flemington, at the New Jersey School of Music, and for Hunterdon Musical Arts. Previously, he was on the faculty at the University of the Arts for 30 years.
Notable Soundtrack Recordings:
- Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002) – for which he received 2 Grammy Awards
- WHYY-TV Production – Dancemaker/Judith Jamison performing on Electric cello
Orchestras
- Capital Philharmonic of NJ
- Hunterdon Symphony
- South Florida Symphony
- Edison Symphony
As a member of the string section
- Smokey Robinson
- Pavarotti
- Andrea Bocelli
- Josh Groban
- Paul Anka (Leader)
- Frank Sinatra Jr.
- Jimmy Roselli (soloist)
- ELO
- Trans Siberian Orchestra (soloist)
- Rod Stewart (Leader)
- Moody Blues (Leader)
- Page & Plant (Leader)
- Daltry & Entwhistle (Leader)
- Wayne Newton
- Barry Manilow (Leader)
- Lyle Lovett (Leader)
Orest “Arty” Artymiw, Violinist
Orest “Arty” Artymiw began violin lessons at age 5, studying with Morris Shulik of the Philadelphia Orchestra. By age 8 and again at age 12, he won the children’s competition to perform as a soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Arty continued his formal violin studies with Dorothy DeLay at Julliard Pre College in NYC from 1972 – 1977. He went on to study with Patynka Kopec from ’77 to ’79, and then Robert DePasquale of the Philadelphia Orchestra from ’79 to ’81. He holds a Bachelor of Music in violin (1981) and a Bachelor of Music Education (1985), both granted by the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts, which has since become the University of the Arts.
Blessed (or cursed) with perfect pitch, as well as being an insatiable stylistic autodidact, Arty has been studying, playing and recording bluegrass, rock, funk, jazz, fusion, progressive rock, klezmer, gypsy swing, folk and Celtic music since 1976.
Arty resurrected his group, Arty & the Hot Katz, in 2012, and their videos can be found on YouTube. He performs on a 5 string electric violin crafted by Richard Barbera (BTS Transducers).
Notable Soundtrack Recordings:
- Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002) – for which he received 2 Grammy Awards
- Age of Innocence (1992)
Bands:
- Hotstrings Music ’86 – present (classical duos, trios and quartets)
- Arty & the Hot Katz ’94 – ’98; 2012 – present (instrumental classic rock)
- The Barley Boys ’07 – ’12 (Celtic rock, originals and classic rock)
- Beau Django ’05 – ’07 (gypsy swing jazz ala Django Reinhardt)
- Jive Five Minus Two ’99 – ’04 (folk and original)
- Gallery Xmas Tree Orchestra ’87 – ’99 (Xmas tunes a la Stan Kenton)
- Jez Hot Swing Club ’87 – ’90 (gypsy swing jazz standards)
- Crystal Creek ’84 – ’86 (bluegrass)
- Hansum Brothers ’82 (country and southern rock)
- The Underwoods ’79 – ’87 (R&B and original)
- Caesars Chariot ’77 – ’80 (original progressive funk)
As a member of backing string sections for:
- Liberace
- Barry White
- Gladys Knight & the Pips
- Dionne Warwick
- Smokey Robinson
- Pavarotti
- Andrea Bocelli
- Josh Groban
- Paul Anka
- Frank Sinatra Jr.
- Jimmy Roselli
- Bobby Vinton
- ELO
- Trans Siberian Orchestra
- Rod Stewart
- Moody Blues
- Page & Plant
- Daltry & Entwhistle
Recorded jingles for (among others):
- McDonalds
- Nickelodian
- Turner Classic Movies
