Cellist Paul Pulford studied with Peggie Sampson (herself a student of Casals and Feuermann) and George Neikrug. Paul Pulford has been the cellist of the Brunswick String Quartet (1984-88), the Orford String Quartet (1988-89), and since 1990 of the Penderecki String Quartet, with whom he tours extensively and has recorded 15 CDs. As a founding member of the Blue Rider Ensemble, Paul Pulford maintains an active interest in the generation and performance of new music. He is the chamber music co-ordinator at Wilfrid Laurier University. BOYD McDONALD performs at this recording on a 1851 fortepiano by Johann Baptist Streicher (builder of Brahms’ own instrument). Pianist Boyd McDonald studied with Lyell Gustin, Murray Adaskin and Nadia Boulanger. After his New York Debut as winner of the Leschetizky Prize he toured extensively as a member of the Beckett & McDonald Piano Duo. Since 1982, after fortepiano studies with Malcolm Bilson, he has been an active fortepianist. He was a member of a Trio with violinist Jeanne Lamon and cellist Christina Mahler of Tafelmusik, with whom he coordinated the Baroque Workshops at Wilfrid Laurier University. Today he enjoys a busy career as fortepiano soloist with orchestras and in recital across Canada, England and the United States. His recordings include The Cello Sonatas with a period fortepiano by Beethoven, and Brahms' piano pieces on a 1851 Streicher piano. He is a Professor Emeritus at Wilfrid Laurier University.