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 avid chamber musician, Molly has played with many ensembles, including the Clark St. Quartet, Fonema Consort, and Ensemble 20+, performing at venues such as the Merle Reskin Theatre, Constellation, the DePaul University Art Museum, the ARC Gallery, 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, and Aryk Crowder. You can hear her on Sidewalk Chalk’s album Shoulder Season and Aryk Crowder’s album 2x4. 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, Martyrs, and the Elbo Room. She has also performed at many festivals, including the Logan Square Arts Festival, Classical Revolution, the Wabash Arts Crawl, Music@Grace Concert Series, and the South Shore Summer Music Festival.
In addition to performing, Molly loves to teach aspiring cellists of all ages. She currently teaches private cello lessons at Southport Performing Arts Conservatory and Terra Sounds. She has also taught at the Merit School of Music, Music For Kids, Sherry-Brener Ltd., and Linton Milano Music Center.
When Molly isn’t playing the cello, she is most likely cooking, writing, snapping photos, and having adventures in the beloved Windy City.