Biography

Sebastian Bäverstam is a cellist and composer whose work bridges performance, composition, and interdisciplinary creativity. Raised in Newton, Massachusetts, he began intensive musical studies early and performed widely in the Boston area with his family ensemble, the Bäverstam Chamber Players. As a teenager, he toured internationally with his youth orchestra under Benjamin Zander, performing Dvořák’s Cello Concerto and Strauss’s Don Quixote in South America and China.

He studied at the New England Conservatory with renowned cellist Paul Katz, appearing in the documentary Talent Has Hunger. After winning the 2010 Concert Artists Guild International Competition, Bäverstam pursued a freelance career in New York, debuting at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in 2012—praised by The Strad for his “consummate instrumental mastery.”

He later shifted toward composition, studying privately with Alla Elena Cohen and at the Royal Conservatory of Stockholm in 2019 with Per Mårtensson. He launched his dual career with the Boston premiere of his cello concerto, described by The Boston Musical Intelligencer as “radically new... never heard before but understood by all.”

In June 2025, Bäverstam recorded his Symphony No. 1 at WGBH’s Fraser Studio (available on YouTube). He also released Settling Old Scores, a duo album with pianist Constantine Finehouse, on major streaming platforms.

An adjunct professor at Roger Williams University and Dana Hall School, he maintains an active private studio and views teaching as a lifelong exchange benefiting students of all ages and levels. Outside music, Bäverstam is an avid board and card game enthusiast and creator of Dragon Soul, an original strategy board game available in Boston-area stores with an online release forthcoming.

Musical Education:

Stockholm Royal Conservatory, Bachelors program, 2018-2019

Undergraduate Diploma, New England Conservatory of Music. June, 2013.
Boston, MA.

Cello with Paul Katz, Ronald Feldman, Andrew Pearce, Yeesun Kim, Andrés Díaz, Richard Aaron.

Master classes with Timothy Eddy, Gary Hoffman, Frans Helmerson, Martha Gershefsky, Orlando Cole, Stephen Doane, Alexander Bailee, Ralph Kirshbaum.

Highest Level Certificate with Honors, New England Conservatory Preparatory School. June, 2007. Boston, MA.

Ravinia Festival 2012; Verbier Festival & Academy 1999, 2006 & 2007; Seiji Ozawa Music Academy Blonay, Switzerland 2006; Carteret Cello Festival Normandie, France 2006; Encore Music Festival 2005 & 2003; Rockport Maine Festival Next Generation Concerts 2003 & 2004; Greenwood Music Camp 1997-2002 & 2004.

Composition with Larry Bell, Rodney Lister, Alla Cohen, Per Mårtennson. 

Piano with Margaret Bachelder.

Composition master classes with Gunther Schuller, Donald Martino, John Harbison.

Awards and Competitions:

2010 Winner Concert Artists Guild International Competition

2006 First Prize Boston Symphony Concerto Competition

2006 Johansson International String Competition, Best Interpretation of
Commissioned Piece

2006 Harvard Music Association Young Artist Award

2005-2006 Featured Artist in Brookline Friends of Chamber Music Series

2005 Featured Young Artist for Williamstown Chamber Music Concerts

2004 New England Chamber Music Foundation Winner for Shostakovich interpretation

2004 First Prize Quincy Symphony Concerto Competition

2003-2004 First Prize Newton Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition

2003-2004 First Prize Brockton Symphony Concerto Competition

2003 First Prize Concord Symphony Concerto Competition

2002-2003 and 2000-2001 First Prize New England Conservatory Preparatory School Concerto Competitions

Performance Highlights:

2025, June. Video recording premiere of Symphony No. 1 by Baverstam at WGBH's Fraser Studio in Boston with the Vangarde Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Baverstam

2024, August. Premiere of original chamber works at the Portsmouth Aethenaeum

2022, May. Premiere of Baverstam cello concerto "Superman" at Church of the Covenant with the Vangarde Symphony Orchestra under Max Hobart in Boston

2019, April. Premiere of original work for sextet at the Royal Hall of the Royal Conservatory of Stockholm in Sweden.

2019, August. Solo recital at the Athenaeum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. 

2019, March. Premiere of original cello concerto reduction at the Mazer Chamber Music Society in Stockholm, Sweden.

2018, March. Performed Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations with Mclean Symphony Orchestra in Virginia.

2016, October. Performed full recital with ensemble Zubabu at Grace Episcopal Church in Virginia.

2015, June. Performed at the Fundação Maria Luisa e Oscar Americano in Saõ Paulo, Brazil.

2014, December. Performed full recital at the Wiener Saal, Mozarteum.

2013, November. Performed Elgar Cello Concerto with Chicago University Orchestra.

2011, January. Performed debut recital at Weill Hall, Carnegie Hall.

2008, January. Performed Beethoven Triple Concerto with Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra.

2007, May and June. Performed Dvorak Concerto with New England Conservatory’s Youth Philharmonic Orchestra in Boston’s Jordan Hall and on tour in China.

2007, March. Performed full recital as winner of Harvard Music Association Award.

2007, January. Performed Schumann Cello Concerto as substitute for Lynn Harrell with the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra.