BIOGRAPHY

Victor Minke Huls is a cellist, conductor, and pianist, and has recently been appointed as associate principal cellist of The Florida Orchestra. Previously, Dr. Huls served as the principal cellist of the Amarillo Symphony (2019-23), and was a cello fellow at the New World Symphony (2021-23). He has also performed with the Jacksonville Symphony, Aspen Chamber Symphony, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Toledo Symphony, Peninsula Music Festival, Saint Augustine Music Festival, Lincoln Center Stage, Nu Deco Ensemble, and in 2015 he was prominently featured in the NAXOS recording project at the National Orchestral Institute with David-Alan Miller. As an active orchestral cellist, Huls has played under many world-renowned conductors, including: Michael Tilson Thomas, Ken-David Masur, Robert Spano, Marin Alsop, David Robertson, Stéphane Denève, Susanna Mälkki, Nicholas McGegan, and Carlos Miguel Prieto.

​

Dr. Huls is also an experienced conductor, and completed his doctorate of musical arts degree in orchestral conducting at Northwestern University with Victor Yampolsky in 2022. At Northwestern, he was assistant conductor for the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, Bienen String Ensemble, Alice Millar Chapel Choir, and Baroque Music Ensemble. He also premiered student compositions and conducted the opera “Dog Days” by David T. Little with the Contemporary Music Ensemble. He previously earned dual-Masters degrees from the University of Michigan in cello performance with Richard Aaron and orchestral conducting with Kenneth Kiesler (2017). During his time in Michigan, Dr. Huls was music director of a chamber orchestra known as the Ann Arbor Camerata, and recorded an album with Dr. Nancy King titled, “IllumiNation: New American Concertos for Oboe,” released by Equilibrium Records. He was also chosen to conduct in a masterclass for Sir Simon Rattle. More recently, Dr. Huls has conducted in multiple concerts and workshops for Michael Tilson Thomas, and assisted Matthias Pintscher at the New World Symphony.

​

Dr. Huls has been a guest teacher in many festivals and workshops, including the Iberacademy of Medellín, Colombia, Prelude Chamber Music Camp (FL), the Walker Family Band Camp (NC), an El Sistema program in Venezuela, and the Trentino Music Festival in Italy. He is also an alum of Douglas Anderson School of the Arts (FL) and Walnut Hill School for the Arts (MA).