Zack Reaves

 

Zack Reaves is a Los Angeles–based cellist, composer, and arranger whose work reimagines what a string player can be in the 21st century. Equally fluent in improvisation, contemporary songwriting, and chamber music, he has built a career that moves seamlessly between concert halls, recording studios, and collaborative genre-blurring stages.

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Rogue Lemon Collective

 

Reaves is the founder and band leader of Rogue Lemon Collective, a multi-genre string ensemble dedicated to expanding the sonic and cultural boundaries of string instruments. Rooted in improvisation and original composition, the group blends elements of jazz, pop, indie rock, folk, and cinematic textures while maintaining the precision and nuance of chamber music.

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With Rogue Lemon Collective, Reaves develops original works alongside inventive arrangements and regularly collaborates with non-classical artists, creating performances that feel both intimate and exploratory. The ensemble’s identity centers on spontaneity, creative risk-taking, and dissolving the traditional hierarchy between classical and popular music. Through this project, Reaves has positioned himself not simply as an interpreter of music, but as a generative creative voice.

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The group will release its debut album in early 2027 and will feature seven of Zack’s original compositions.

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Cross-Genre Collaborations

 

 

A highly sought-after recording artist and live performer, Reaves has performed and recorded with artists including Jacob Collier, Laufey, Ed Maverick, The Blasting Company, Ebony Loren, Adam Hersch, and Mauricio Morales.

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He served as Principal Cello for Jacob Collier’s first-ever Audience Symphony Orchestra in San Francisco and appears in the widely viewed performance in which Collier “improvises” the orchestra in real time — a project emblematic of Reaves’ comfort in collaborative, spontaneous large-scale music-making.

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As an arranger, his string quartet and ensemble works are performed internationally and regularly featured in large-scale concert series such as Candlelight Concerts by Fever and ConcertDome. Recordings of his arrangements have amassed over millions of streams across digital platforms, reflecting both commercial reach and stylistic versatility.

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Classical Foundation

 

 

Reaves’ contemporary voice is built on a rigorous classical foundation. He was a founding member of the Altius Quartet, touring internationally, recording three studio albums, and earning Silver Medal at the 2014 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.

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He has served as Visiting Music Director and Principal Cellist of the Oklahoma Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and Assistant Principal Cellist of the Boulder Philharmonic. Additional orchestral performances include the Colorado Symphony, Colorado Ballet, and Oklahoma City Philharmonic.

 

While his primary artistic focus has shifted toward contemporary creation and collaboration, Reaves remains active in the classical world as a substitute musician with organizations such as LA Opera, LA Master Chorale, and Long Beach Symphony.

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Education & Teaching

 

 

A dedicated educator, Reaves maintains a private cello studio and has taught students of all ages and skill levels. He has previously held teaching positions at Oklahoma City University, University of Colorado Boulder, Denver School of the Arts, and Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA). His pedagogical philosophy emphasizes creative agency, stylistic fluency, and critical listening — encouraging students to move beyond technical mastery toward personal artistic voice.

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Background

 

 

Reaves holds degrees in cello and chamber music performance from Southern Methodist University and the University of Colorado Boulder. His principal teachers include Andrés Díaz, Christopher Adkins, András Fejér, David Requiro, Jim Shelley, and Greg Sauer.

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He performs on a 1969 W.E. Hill & Sons cello and a 2019 Evan Orman bow.

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Based in Los Angeles, Zack lives with his wife Parisa, their son Arya, and their two dogs Cassie and Blue