Mannfried Funk began his studies when he was five at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. During his formative years he won several prestigious awards through solo competitions of which the first was the Pacific Musical Society Award at age eleven. Among other awards that followed were The Alameda Music Teachers Award, The California Cello Club Competition, and The Don Bushell Competition. Mr. Funk's professional career has spanned the United States, South America, Middle East, Asia, former Soviet Union, and Europe. He has held the positions of Coprincipal Cello of the Sinfonica National de Colombia, Principal Cello of the Orquesta Pro Musica de Bogota, Principal Cello of the Orquesta Collegium Musicum, member of the Seattle Symphony, Ballet and Opera, Principal Cello of the Pacific Chamber Orchestra, Solo Cello of the Federal Way Philharmonic and toured with Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Music of the Night." In South America he regularly recorded for the commercial industry and also produced a record of Colombian music. He is active locally in the recording industry and has been invited as guest soloist with local orchestras. Among his performances, he has included the 20th century concerti of Oskar Morawetz, "Memorial to Martin Luther King" and the world premiere of Mary Rhoads' cello concerto. Mr. Funk has appeared in concert in chamber music touring Japan with The Pacific Chamber Group and broadcasting on King FM.