Anna Clift is founder of the International Cello Institute, where she collaborates with teachers and students from around the world. Passionate about educating young musicians, she frequently mentors and consults with young cellists from around the world about college and graduate program choices. Ms. Clift is currently a member of the string faculty at St Olaf College and has taught at Carleton College, Marshall University, and Augsburg University.

She has extensive orchestral experience having played as an extra player with the Minnesota Orchestra since 1989. She is a former member of the Artaria String Quartet and the Artemis Piano Trio and has been a guest performer with the Cavani String Quartet, the Isles Ensemble and the Minnesota Orchestra and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

Ms. Clift often serves as a juror for various competitions around the United States; including the Seattle Young Artists Festival, the Schubert Club Competition, and the Fischoff Competition. She studied with Gary Hoffman, Janos Starker, and Bernard Greenhouse. Other teachers and mentors include Menahem Pressler, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Paul Tortelier and Joseph Gingold.