Classically trained with a penchant for rock and folk.

Biography

     Jake Brookman started playing the cello when he was 9 years old and quickly realized that he had a passion for music. He played with the CASA Young People's Orchestra and the Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra, serving as Principal Cellist for both ensembles. While still in high school he won performance opportunities from competing in the young artist concerto competitions of the CASA Young People’s Orchestra, Alton Symphony Orchestra and the Brentwood Symphony Orchestra. Jake then went on to study performance at the Mannes College of Music in New York City with a scholarship.

     In 1992 shortly after his return to St. Louis, he joined The Suede Chain (a rock band from Champaign, IL) which would be the first of many bands that Jake has collaborated with throughout the years. He has performed with Cirque Musica, Idina Menzel, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, The Who, "Weird Al" Yankovic, as an extra musician with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Union Avenue Opera Theater, Winter Opera St. Louis. Jake currently performs with HämmerString, Mr. Blue Sky, Salt of the Earth, and The University City Symphony Orchestra. He also records and performs with various other local and regional artists.

     His cello teachers have included Susan Hampton, Beverly Field, Yuan Tung, Aleksander Ciechanski, Stephen Balderston, Robert Silverman, Peter Wiley and Paul Tobias.

​     Jake plays a factory produced Czechoslovakian cello from the 1920’s and uses Spirocore Medium Chrome Wound strings and Gustave Bernardel Rosin. When playing with amplification he typically uses a Fishman C-100 pickup, Line 6 DL4 and a SWR California Blonde amp. Although, for busking and gigs that require backing tracks Jake uses a Behringer EUROPORT MPA40BT portable PA system.

Artists that Jake has recorded with include Dana Anderson, Keller Anderson, Autoliner, David Becherer, Belle Starr, The Birthday People, JD Blackfoot, Boot Camp, Building Rome, Connibal Road, Ded Bugs, Earthsol, The Finn's Motel, Fragile Porcelain Mice, Gavin M., The Great Crusades, Tommy Keene, Kid Scientist, The Kinetic Console, Laurie McColley, Letter to Memphis, Javier Mendoza Band, Christian Moder, The Norwood Park All Stars, Leslie Nuss, Pat Sajak Assassins, Leslie Sanazaro, Salt of the Earth, Shaman's Harvest, Judson F. Snell, Jack D. Spann, Abigail Stahlschmidt, Jim Stern, The Suede Chain, Katie Todd, David Toretta, Vitamen A, Ptah Williams

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