Lillian Pettitt

A native of Texas, Lillian Pettitt began her musical studies at the age of 3 while studying piano at the Suzuki Institute of Houston. After three years of piano lessons and two years of violin lessons she went to hear Yo-Yo Ma perform with the Houston Symphony and immediately switched to the cello. After studying for many years with Chris French of the Houston Symphony she moved to San Francisco to continue her education. She received her Bachelors in Cello Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music while studying with Jean- Michael Fonteneau. She then moved to Chicago and received her Master’s in Music from DePaul University School of Music while studying with Stephen Balderston of the Chicago Symphony. Lillian has performed extensively across the United States and Europe. As an active orchestral musician, Lillian has performed under conductors such as Teddy Abrams, Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Mark Elder, Susanna Mälkki, Daniel Boico, Carlos Miguel Prieto and Hans Graff. Lillian is currently Assistant Principal of the Louisville Orchestra and cellist in the Social Distancing Quartet