Cellist and teacher, Mannfried Funk started the cello at the age of five at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and studied with Margaret Rowell, Barton Frank, Paul Olefsky, Ramy Shevelov and Zara Nelsova. He has won a number of solo competitions including the prestigious Pacific Musical Society award at age 11, the California cello club award, the Alameda music teachers award and, locally the Don Bushell Competition.

Mr. Funk came to Seattle as a member of the Seattle Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Seattle Opera. Currently he has been active as a soloist, teacher and recording cellist for the movie industry. He has performed in the United States, Europe, Japan, South America, Middle East and former Soviet Union. He has also held various Principal Cello positions and was on the U.S. tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Music of the Night". Prior to arriving to Seattle he was Principal and Coprincipal Cello of several orchestras in South America and Coprincipal Cellist for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute.