AKA: “Torch”

Age: Somewhere in the 20’s…

Height: 5′9″

Ethnicity: Japanese/Eastern European

Places Lived: Born and raised in San Antonio, TX.  Went to college in Cleveland, OH for 5 years.  Have lived in Ann Arbor, MI for the past 2 years.

Favorite BoR Song: The last 1:50 of the last track of the new album (IV. Finale)

Why? It is a cinematic passage of epic proportions – it just sounds so cool!

Musical Influences: Dream Theater (esp. keyboardist Jordan Rudess), Metallica, Apocalyptica, the other guys in BoR, and of course all my cello teachers throughout the years

Quirks: I don’t eat fast food, butter, and most cheeses.  I am a very organized person am trying to keep my awesome white cello case white.

Favorite Cuisine: Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (in no particular order)

Best Part of Being in BoR: Rocking out with the guys and interacting with our diverse fan base.

Worst Part of Being in BoR: Not being able to hear anything (and play in tune) when we plug in and play electric sets!

Activities Outside BoR: Private cello instruction, personal finance, cooking and eating, getting back in shape, traveling and learning about other cultures, discovering new music, and meeting unusual people.


BIO

Cellist Martin Torch-Ishii currently resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan where he is a full-scholarship student of Anthony Elliott in the Doctor of Musical Arts program at the University of Michigan.  His playing has been praised by the San Antonio Express News for projecting “lively tone and confident, direct lyricism” and has been featured on National Public Radio’s From the Top.  He attended the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying with Richard Aaron for a Bachelor of Music degree and Stephen Geber for a Master of Music degree.  Later studies also took him to Japan on a full scholarship where he received a Certificate from the Orchestra Academy of the Toho School of Music as a student of Ko Iwasaki.  Throughout his training, he has performed in master classes for many prominent cellists, including Robert deMaine, Stephen Doane, Eleanor Schoenfeld, Timothy Eddy, Darrett Adkins, and Andrew Shulman.  Mr. Torch-Ishii was Assistant Principal of the Akron Symphony, a regular substitute with the San Antonio Symphony, and has participated in numerous summer festivals including Spoleto USA, Kneisel Hall, and Aspen.  As an educator, he has been on faculty at the Sphinx Preparatory Institute in Detroit and the Five Seasons Chamber Music Festival in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  He maintains a full private studio in Ann Arbor and is Graduate Student Instructor of Cello at the University of Michigan School of Music.