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Cello faculty:
Michael Shein
Israeli-Mexican-American cellist Michal Shein lives in Boston, where she is a soloist and also focuses her career on creating pedagogical and artistic initiatives. Born in Jerusalem to a Mexican father and an American mother, Michal has dedicated her career to uniting
cultures with music. She is the creator and artistic director of Festival Cellísimo, now in its third year.
As a teacher, Michal is recognized for her teaching style that nurtures her students with effective teaching methods for solid and positive musical advancement. His students have been winners in competitions, have received admission to festivals such as
Tanglewood, Brevard, YOLA Festival, Greenwood, National Symphony Summer Institute, and
They have given masterclasses for teachers at the most important conservatories in the United States. Michal has been in high demand on many shows and festivals. She is currently a professor at the Boston String Academy Distinguished Program, a program inspired by El Sistema, which has been highly recognized for its mission of inclusion and diversity, high caliber of its students, and innovative methods of pedagogy. This year she was nominated as "The Best Teacher of the Year" at the El Sistema USA conference. Michal also serves on the faculty of the Longy School of Music of Bard College and the University of Rhode Island.
In 2014, Michal began educational work in Oaxaca, Mexico, with the support of the
Harp Helú Foundation, presenting concerts and began the “String Workshop,” an intense one-week program for advanced cello, violin, and viola students.
In addition to his diverse educational work, Michal maintains a career as a soloist, cellist, and chamber musician. Some highlights of this past season have been a solo concert with the Atlantic Symphony, collaborations with the Celebrity Series of
Boston, and a new collaboration with guitarist Adam Levin where they will record a new
arrangement of Vivaldi's sonatas.
Michal appears with many orchestras and ensembles in Boston including the Rhode Island Philharmonic, Portland Symphony, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, and others. As a baroque cellist, she plays with ensembles including the Harvard Baroque Chamber Orchestra and Grande Harmonie, Longy Summer Institute, etc. From 2008-2013, she was the principal cellist of the Discovery Ensemble under the direction of Courtney Lewis. And in 2009, she was voted in online to be a part of the YouTube Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas.
Michal received his
Bachelor of Music from the University of California at Berkeley. Graduating with honors, Michal received the Hertz Traveling Fellowship to continue
his studies in Paris with Mark Drobinsky and Gary Hoffman. During his time in Europe,
she was accepted to the master classes of “Accademia Chigiana di Siena” in Italy, where she worked with Antonio Meneses. She was accepted to graduate study at the New England Conservatory in Boston, where she studied with Natasha Brofsky.
Michal lives in a cooperative community in Boston with her husband and two young children.
cultures with music. She is the creator and artistic director of Festival Cellísimo, now in its third year.
As a teacher, Michal is recognized for her teaching style that nurtures her students with effective teaching methods for solid and positive musical advancement. His students have been winners in competitions, have received admission to festivals such as
Tanglewood, Brevard, YOLA Festival, Greenwood, National Symphony Summer Institute, and
They have given masterclasses for teachers at the most important conservatories in the United States. Michal has been in high demand on many shows and festivals. She is currently a professor at the Boston String Academy Distinguished Program, a program inspired by El Sistema, which has been highly recognized for its mission of inclusion and diversity, high caliber of its students, and innovative methods of pedagogy. This year she was nominated as "The Best Teacher of the Year" at the El Sistema USA conference. Michal also serves on the faculty of the Longy School of Music of Bard College and the University of Rhode Island.
In 2014, Michal began educational work in Oaxaca, Mexico, with the support of the
Harp Helú Foundation, presenting concerts and began the “String Workshop,” an intense one-week program for advanced cello, violin, and viola students.
In addition to his diverse educational work, Michal maintains a career as a soloist, cellist, and chamber musician. Some highlights of this past season have been a solo concert with the Atlantic Symphony, collaborations with the Celebrity Series of
Boston, and a new collaboration with guitarist Adam Levin where they will record a new
arrangement of Vivaldi's sonatas.
Michal appears with many orchestras and ensembles in Boston including the Rhode Island Philharmonic, Portland Symphony, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, and others. As a baroque cellist, she plays with ensembles including the Harvard Baroque Chamber Orchestra and Grande Harmonie, Longy Summer Institute, etc. From 2008-2013, she was the principal cellist of the Discovery Ensemble under the direction of Courtney Lewis. And in 2009, she was voted in online to be a part of the YouTube Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas.
Michal received his
Bachelor of Music from the University of California at Berkeley. Graduating with honors, Michal received the Hertz Traveling Fellowship to continue
his studies in Paris with Mark Drobinsky and Gary Hoffman. During his time in Europe,
she was accepted to the master classes of “Accademia Chigiana di Siena” in Italy, where she worked with Antonio Meneses. She was accepted to graduate study at the New England Conservatory in Boston, where she studied with Natasha Brofsky.
Michal lives in a cooperative community in Boston with her husband and two young children.
Santiago Canyon Valencia
Colombian cellist Santiago Cañón-Valencia is a prolific soloist, composer, curator, artist, painter and photographer described as "technically impeccable... totally under the skin of the composers' language" (The Strad). BBC Next Generation Artist of 2022, Cañón-Valencia was born in Bogotá in 1995 and made his orchestral debut as a soloist when he was six years old with the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra.
Among his multiple recognitions, Cañón-Valencia obtained a Silver Medal in the 2019 XVI Tchaikovsky Competition, received the 2018 Starker Foundation Award, third prize in the 2017 Queen Elisabeth International Competition, first prize in the Carlos Prieto International Competition, Beijing International Music Competition, Gisborne International Music Competition, Lennox International Young Artists Competition and awards in the Sphinx, Casals, Johansen, Cassadó and Adam competitions.
Cañón-Valencia's solo career has taken him around the world as soloists with orchestras such as Mariinsky Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic, SWR Symphonieorchester, Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Antwerp Symphony, Moscow Soloists Chamber Orchestra, and all the most important orchestras in Colombia.
Upcoming highlights include her debut at London's Wigmore Hall and a recital at St. George's Bristol with pianist Naoko Sonoda, concerts with New Generation Artist Showcase, radio broadcasts with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra, a solo recital at the Teatro Massimo in Italy, debuts with the Danish Chamber Orchestra at the Cartagena Festival and the Belgrade Philharmonic, and appearances with the Latvian National Orchestra, Spain's RTVE Orchestra and Serbia's Belgrade Philharmonic.
In the United States he performs at the International Cello Institute, recitals at the San Diego Athenaeum, the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Massachusetts, and a return to the Alabama Symphony. He performs two dates in South Korea as part of the Mostly Cello Festival before returning to Colombia for concerts celebrating his latest album, Ascenso, with the Colombian National Symphony Orchestra. In the summer of 2024, it will celebrate Janos Starker's centenary in Korea and Japan.
Cañón-Valencia performed the world premiere of Carlos Izcaray's Stringmaster cello concerto with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the Colombian premiere of Ginastera's Cello Concerto No. 2 with the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia, world premiere of the cello concerto of “Rapsodia a los 4 Elementos” by Jorge Pinzón at the Cartagena International Music Festival and premiered Gulda's cello concerto with the Auckland Chamber Orchestra.
As a recording artist, Cañón-Valencia enjoys immersing himself in known and unknown pieces, with a special interest in commissioning new pieces, arranging pieces, and writing his own music. His debut release Solo; an album with pianist Andrea Lucchesini dedicated to Schubert and Beethoven for the Egea Label; an album of Russian cello sonatas and popular pieces with pianist Katherine Austin for the Atoll Label, and his latest recording, Ascenso, released in November 2022 on Sono Luminus.
Cañón-Valencia has been sponsored by the Mayra & Edmundo Esquenazi Scholarship through the Salvi Foundation since 2011.
This is his first year at Cellisimo.
Among his multiple recognitions, Cañón-Valencia obtained a Silver Medal in the 2019 XVI Tchaikovsky Competition, received the 2018 Starker Foundation Award, third prize in the 2017 Queen Elisabeth International Competition, first prize in the Carlos Prieto International Competition, Beijing International Music Competition, Gisborne International Music Competition, Lennox International Young Artists Competition and awards in the Sphinx, Casals, Johansen, Cassadó and Adam competitions.
Cañón-Valencia's solo career has taken him around the world as soloists with orchestras such as Mariinsky Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic, SWR Symphonieorchester, Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Antwerp Symphony, Moscow Soloists Chamber Orchestra, and all the most important orchestras in Colombia.
Upcoming highlights include her debut at London's Wigmore Hall and a recital at St. George's Bristol with pianist Naoko Sonoda, concerts with New Generation Artist Showcase, radio broadcasts with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra, a solo recital at the Teatro Massimo in Italy, debuts with the Danish Chamber Orchestra at the Cartagena Festival and the Belgrade Philharmonic, and appearances with the Latvian National Orchestra, Spain's RTVE Orchestra and Serbia's Belgrade Philharmonic.
In the United States he performs at the International Cello Institute, recitals at the San Diego Athenaeum, the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Massachusetts, and a return to the Alabama Symphony. He performs two dates in South Korea as part of the Mostly Cello Festival before returning to Colombia for concerts celebrating his latest album, Ascenso, with the Colombian National Symphony Orchestra. In the summer of 2024, it will celebrate Janos Starker's centenary in Korea and Japan.
Cañón-Valencia performed the world premiere of Carlos Izcaray's Stringmaster cello concerto with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the Colombian premiere of Ginastera's Cello Concerto No. 2 with the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia, world premiere of the cello concerto of “Rapsodia a los 4 Elementos” by Jorge Pinzón at the Cartagena International Music Festival and premiered Gulda's cello concerto with the Auckland Chamber Orchestra.
As a recording artist, Cañón-Valencia enjoys immersing himself in known and unknown pieces, with a special interest in commissioning new pieces, arranging pieces, and writing his own music. His debut release Solo; an album with pianist Andrea Lucchesini dedicated to Schubert and Beethoven for the Egea Label; an album of Russian cello sonatas and popular pieces with pianist Katherine Austin for the Atoll Label, and his latest recording, Ascenso, released in November 2022 on Sono Luminus.
Cañón-Valencia has been sponsored by the Mayra & Edmundo Esquenazi Scholarship through the Salvi Foundation since 2011.
This is his first year at Cellisimo.
Lluis Claret
The Andorran Lluís Claret began his musical studies at the age of nine. In 1964 he moved to Barcelona, where, after obtaining the highest distinctions at the Liceu Conservatory, he began to work under the tutelage of Enric Casals (brother of Pau Casals), who despite not being a cellist would be his principal teacher for many years. Later he expanded his studies in France, Italy and the United States with Maurice Gendron, Radu Aldulescu and Eva Janzer, with an advancement which was completed with two personalities who were decisive in his subsequent musical development: György Sebök and Bernard Greenhouse.
After winning first prizes at the Bologna (1975), Pau Casals (1976) and Mstislav Rostropovich (1977) International Competitions, he became a regular soloist invited by major orchestras, including the Washington Symphony Orchestra, the Moscow Philharmonic, the French National Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Hungarian Philharmonic and the Czech Philharmonic, under the baton of leading figures such as Pierre Boulez, Karl Munchingen, Dimitri Kitaienko, Witold Lutoslawski, George Malcolm, Vaclav Neuman and Mstislav Rostropovich .
However, chamber music has always held a special place in his professional activity. Thus, he founded the Barcelona Trio (1981-1993) and has often collaborated with other prestigious performers.
Lluís Claret is also a pedagogical specialist, regularly invited to be part of the juries of International Competitions and Courses (such as the Rostropovich in Paris, the Leonard Rose in Washington, the Trapani in Sicily), as well as serving as a professor at numerous conservatories. Since 2003, he has presided over the Lluís Claret-City of Moguer International Competition.
His repertoire ranges from Bach to contemporary music and includes premieres, first performances and works dedicated to him by many current composers (Dutilleux, Lutoslawski, Boulez, Xenakis, Guinjoan, Charles, etc.), many of whom he has immortalized in his equally important discography.
After winning first prizes at the Bologna (1975), Pau Casals (1976) and Mstislav Rostropovich (1977) International Competitions, he became a regular soloist invited by major orchestras, including the Washington Symphony Orchestra, the Moscow Philharmonic, the French National Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Hungarian Philharmonic and the Czech Philharmonic, under the baton of leading figures such as Pierre Boulez, Karl Munchingen, Dimitri Kitaienko, Witold Lutoslawski, George Malcolm, Vaclav Neuman and Mstislav Rostropovich .
However, chamber music has always held a special place in his professional activity. Thus, he founded the Barcelona Trio (1981-1993) and has often collaborated with other prestigious performers.
Lluís Claret is also a pedagogical specialist, regularly invited to be part of the juries of International Competitions and Courses (such as the Rostropovich in Paris, the Leonard Rose in Washington, the Trapani in Sicily), as well as serving as a professor at numerous conservatories. Since 2003, he has presided over the Lluís Claret-City of Moguer International Competition.
His repertoire ranges from Bach to contemporary music and includes premieres, first performances and works dedicated to him by many current composers (Dutilleux, Lutoslawski, Boulez, Xenakis, Guinjoan, Charles, etc.), many of whom he has immortalized in his equally important discography.
Christine Lamprea
Christine Lamprea is a dynamic cellist, "with a dedication to the highest quality" (Palm Beach Daily News). After her debut in Carnegie Hall as a soloist in 2013, she has returned to Carnegie Hall, and has also performed as a soloist with orchestras such as the Costa Rica National Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Houston Symphony, Michoacan National Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Santa Fe Pro Musica, and has played on tour with Sphinx Virtuosi in the United States. Christine also appears in recital in major series such as Illinois' Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Florida's Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Pepperdine University, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Washington Performing Arts Society. In demand as a chamber music cellist, she frequently plays with the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players, and has collaborated with such great musicians as Shmuel Ashkenasi, Sarah Chang, Itzhak Perlman, Roger Tapping, and Carol Wincenc.
Christine explores many genres of music, as well as unconventional venues for concerts and education. Her "Suite de Canciones de Colombia" includes arrangements of traditional music from South America for cello and piano (or guitar), and she has performed at the Colombian embassy and at the United States Supreme Court for Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Christine has worked with members of the baroque ensemble Les Arts Florissants and studied fortepiano sonatas with Audrey Axinn. She has presented the premieres of works of contemporary composers. Most recently, she has commissioned cadenzas for Haydn's Concerto in D Major by composer Jessie Montgomery, and premiered Jeffrey Mumford's Cello Concerto with the San Antonio Symphony.
Christine is on the faculty at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, as well as a substitute professor at the Juilliard School, and was on the faculty at the Texas Christian University School of Music from 2018-19. She has given master classes at Bivouac-e Festival, Idyllwild Arts Academy, Wintergreen Summer Music Festival, and others. Christine worked with students from Ecuador in Quito and Guayaquil, as part of a residency between The Juilliard School and “Sinfonia Por La Vida,” a social program inspired by El Sistema in Venezuela.
Christine Lamprea received the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans, for her studies at the New England Conservatory, as well as a Sphinx MPower Artist Grant, for her studies with the great cellist Matt Haimovitz. She studied with Bonnie Hampton at the Juilliard School and received an MA from the New England Conservatory, with Natasha Brofsky. Other teachers have been Lynn Harrell, Frans Helmerson, and Philippe Muller, Ken Freudigman, and Ken Ishii.
Christine explores many genres of music, as well as unconventional venues for concerts and education. Her "Suite de Canciones de Colombia" includes arrangements of traditional music from South America for cello and piano (or guitar), and she has performed at the Colombian embassy and at the United States Supreme Court for Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Christine has worked with members of the baroque ensemble Les Arts Florissants and studied fortepiano sonatas with Audrey Axinn. She has presented the premieres of works of contemporary composers. Most recently, she has commissioned cadenzas for Haydn's Concerto in D Major by composer Jessie Montgomery, and premiered Jeffrey Mumford's Cello Concerto with the San Antonio Symphony.
Christine is on the faculty at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, as well as a substitute professor at the Juilliard School, and was on the faculty at the Texas Christian University School of Music from 2018-19. She has given master classes at Bivouac-e Festival, Idyllwild Arts Academy, Wintergreen Summer Music Festival, and others. Christine worked with students from Ecuador in Quito and Guayaquil, as part of a residency between The Juilliard School and “Sinfonia Por La Vida,” a social program inspired by El Sistema in Venezuela.
Christine Lamprea received the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans, for her studies at the New England Conservatory, as well as a Sphinx MPower Artist Grant, for her studies with the great cellist Matt Haimovitz. She studied with Bonnie Hampton at the Juilliard School and received an MA from the New England Conservatory, with Natasha Brofsky. Other teachers have been Lynn Harrell, Frans Helmerson, and Philippe Muller, Ken Freudigman, and Ken Ishii.
German Marcano
Venezuelan cellist, graduated in England with recognitions such as "Young Musician of the Year 1980" from the Reading Symphony and "Premier Prix" from the Guildhall School of Music. He participated in master courses with teachers Franz Helmerson, Mstislav Rostropovich, Lynn Harrell and Janos Starker.
Between 1985 and 1997 he held the position of principal in the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra. As a member of the Ríos Reyna Quartet, he made national and international tours and made a CD of Latin American works.
In 1997 he moved to the United States where he obtained the “Doctorate in Musical Arts” awarded by the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a mention in orchestral performance and direction. During his stay in the United States Marcano was a guest Principal Cello
in the Madison Symphony Orchestra.
He has given world premieres of works by renowned Venezuelan composers such as Modesta Bor and Inocente Carreño, as well as national premieres by several Latin American authors. He premiered with the Aragua Symphony and the Puerto Rico Symphony the concerto for cello and orchestra by the Puerto Rican Carlos Vázquez, composed especially for Marcano.
He has given talks and master classes at the Universities of Grand Valley State, Andrews, Wisconsin, Louisiana and Lawrence, San Diego Youth Orchestra in the United States, Guayaquil Youth Orchestra, Cuenca Symphony, in Brazil, Puerto Rico and Aruba.
In 2007 he released his first album with the pianist Clara Marcano with works by Beethoven, Schumann and Debussy and continued in 2011 with his album “Rochela”,
first of its kind with the cello as the protagonist in Venezuelan folk music.
He also published a catalog of Latin American works for cello, the Suite for
cello and piano by Modesta Bor and the works for cello by Juan Bautista Plaza with the sponsorship of FUNVES, as well as some articles in specialized online magazines.
The Latin American cello music catalog was recently launched online in association with The Sphinx Organization, CelloBello (most page
prestigious cello magazine on the internet) and the Venezuelan cellist Horacio Contreras.
In May 2018, he released his latest record production, "Aqui y ella" in which he performs Venezuelan music alongside Jorge Glem (C4 trio), Manuel Rangel, David Peña (Ensamble Gurrufío), Luis Julio Toro, Luis Zea and Clara Marcano among others.
As a conductor Marcano has performed with the Miranda Symphony, Juvenil de Mérida,
National Philharmonic, Simón Bolivar Symphony, the chamber orchestras of the
Simón Bolívar University and the Mozarteum Center, and the cello ensembles of the
Madison Summer Cello Institute in the United States, and Ensamble Prieto from Ecuador.
He is currently residing in Florida-USA, where he teaches at Kalos Music & Art School and Vivace Academy, and has an active participation in solo recitals, with his
Venezuelan music ensemble, with members of the FIU, and as part of the Atlantic Classical, Florida Grand Opera orchestras and guest principal with the Palm Beach Symphony and South Florida Symphony.
German Marcano has taught at Cellisimo in the 2021, 2022 and 2024 editions.
Between 1985 and 1997 he held the position of principal in the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra. As a member of the Ríos Reyna Quartet, he made national and international tours and made a CD of Latin American works.
In 1997 he moved to the United States where he obtained the “Doctorate in Musical Arts” awarded by the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a mention in orchestral performance and direction. During his stay in the United States Marcano was a guest Principal Cello
in the Madison Symphony Orchestra.
He has given world premieres of works by renowned Venezuelan composers such as Modesta Bor and Inocente Carreño, as well as national premieres by several Latin American authors. He premiered with the Aragua Symphony and the Puerto Rico Symphony the concerto for cello and orchestra by the Puerto Rican Carlos Vázquez, composed especially for Marcano.
He has given talks and master classes at the Universities of Grand Valley State, Andrews, Wisconsin, Louisiana and Lawrence, San Diego Youth Orchestra in the United States, Guayaquil Youth Orchestra, Cuenca Symphony, in Brazil, Puerto Rico and Aruba.
In 2007 he released his first album with the pianist Clara Marcano with works by Beethoven, Schumann and Debussy and continued in 2011 with his album “Rochela”,
first of its kind with the cello as the protagonist in Venezuelan folk music.
He also published a catalog of Latin American works for cello, the Suite for
cello and piano by Modesta Bor and the works for cello by Juan Bautista Plaza with the sponsorship of FUNVES, as well as some articles in specialized online magazines.
The Latin American cello music catalog was recently launched online in association with The Sphinx Organization, CelloBello (most page
prestigious cello magazine on the internet) and the Venezuelan cellist Horacio Contreras.
In May 2018, he released his latest record production, "Aqui y ella" in which he performs Venezuelan music alongside Jorge Glem (C4 trio), Manuel Rangel, David Peña (Ensamble Gurrufío), Luis Julio Toro, Luis Zea and Clara Marcano among others.
As a conductor Marcano has performed with the Miranda Symphony, Juvenil de Mérida,
National Philharmonic, Simón Bolivar Symphony, the chamber orchestras of the
Simón Bolívar University and the Mozarteum Center, and the cello ensembles of the
Madison Summer Cello Institute in the United States, and Ensamble Prieto from Ecuador.
He is currently residing in Florida-USA, where he teaches at Kalos Music & Art School and Vivace Academy, and has an active participation in solo recitals, with his
Venezuelan music ensemble, with members of the FIU, and as part of the Atlantic Classical, Florida Grand Opera orchestras and guest principal with the Palm Beach Symphony and South Florida Symphony.
German Marcano has taught at Cellisimo in the 2021, 2022 and 2024 editions.
Andrea Casarrubios
Acclaimed by the New York Times for playing “with a beautiful sound through
of a wide range of emotions,” cellist and composer Andrea
Casarrubios frequently performs in various countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and America. Solo performances include
concerts at the National Auditorium in Madrid, Carnegie Hall in New York and the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing.
Awarded with
first prizes in numerous international competitions, Andrea has been invited by festivals such as Piatigorsky Festival, Ravinia Festival and Verbier
Festival. As a professor, she has taught master classes at Juilliard
School, University of Southern California, Missouri State University,
University of Rochester and City University of New York, among other centers.
As a composer, her works are commissioned and performed
internationally by soloists and groups such as the Chicago Symphony
Orchestra, National Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra,
Manhattan Chamber Players, Sphinx Virtuosi, and are regularly
broadcast by radio stations in Canada, Japan, Argentina, Brazil, the United States
United States and Spain. Her album Caminante: Music of Andrea Casarrubios includes
own works. Released by the Odradek Records label, the album has
been praised by critics from various countries, including ABC Classic in
Australia that chose it as "Best Classical Albums 2019" describing its
interpretive and compositional quality as “superhuman”. One of his most recent commissions, Inheritance, was premiered by Sphinx Virtuosi at Carnegie
Hall in 2023.
Andrea began her studies with the pianist and composer María Escribano. At the same time, Andrea trained as a cellist with Maria de Macedo in Madrid, completing her studies with Lluís Claret in Barcelona. A scholarship recipient from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Southern California, Andrea was a student of Amit Peled and Ralph Kirshbaum. As part of his doctorate in New York, he also worked in the field of composition with John
Corigliano. Recent engagements include concerts and
premieres in Mexico, Spain, Romania, Belgium, Singapore, Canada and the United States
Joined.
This is her first year at Cellisimo and the festival's first female composer-in-residence.
of a wide range of emotions,” cellist and composer Andrea
Casarrubios frequently performs in various countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and America. Solo performances include
concerts at the National Auditorium in Madrid, Carnegie Hall in New York and the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing.
Awarded with
first prizes in numerous international competitions, Andrea has been invited by festivals such as Piatigorsky Festival, Ravinia Festival and Verbier
Festival. As a professor, she has taught master classes at Juilliard
School, University of Southern California, Missouri State University,
University of Rochester and City University of New York, among other centers.
As a composer, her works are commissioned and performed
internationally by soloists and groups such as the Chicago Symphony
Orchestra, National Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra,
Manhattan Chamber Players, Sphinx Virtuosi, and are regularly
broadcast by radio stations in Canada, Japan, Argentina, Brazil, the United States
United States and Spain. Her album Caminante: Music of Andrea Casarrubios includes
own works. Released by the Odradek Records label, the album has
been praised by critics from various countries, including ABC Classic in
Australia that chose it as "Best Classical Albums 2019" describing its
interpretive and compositional quality as “superhuman”. One of his most recent commissions, Inheritance, was premiered by Sphinx Virtuosi at Carnegie
Hall in 2023.
Andrea began her studies with the pianist and composer María Escribano. At the same time, Andrea trained as a cellist with Maria de Macedo in Madrid, completing her studies with Lluís Claret in Barcelona. A scholarship recipient from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Southern California, Andrea was a student of Amit Peled and Ralph Kirshbaum. As part of his doctorate in New York, he also worked in the field of composition with John
Corigliano. Recent engagements include concerts and
premieres in Mexico, Spain, Romania, Belgium, Singapore, Canada and the United States
Joined.
This is her first year at Cellisimo and the festival's first female composer-in-residence.
Angel Hernandez
"Angel is capable of producing one of the most beautiful sounds I have heard in the world."
cello, warm, natural, round, noble and perfect for the best possible cantabile." Giovanni Gnocchi, Professor at the Mozarteum of Salzburg.
He was recently selected as Principal Cellist in the Academy Orchestra of the Korean National Symphony Orchestra, 2023 edition, in Seoul, South Korea. As part of the Academy, he also performed at the historic Deoksugung Palace, playing the Souvenir of Florence by P. I. Tchaikovsky, along with the most
academic highlights.
He has received different awards and recognitions for his participation in international competitions. In 2017 he won second prize in the international competition
for New Docta strings, performed in Córdoba, Argentina, where he also won the award for the best interpretation of the Argentine work, with Pampeana N.2 by A. Ginastera.
In 2018 he received the "Excellence Scholarship" for his outstanding participation in the
Domaine Forget Festival, held in Quebec, Canada. He received an honorable mention for his participation in the International Competition
Carlos Prieto, made in Morelia, Mexico; where he obtained fourth place in the
competition in the 2019 edition. In that same year, he was invited to the string orchestra Sphinx Virtuosi Tour, with which he made an extensive tour of the United States, performing at the most important
stages in the country, such as Carnegie Hall in New York, among others.
He has given concerts as a soloist and chamber music in Venezuela, Mexico, Ecuador, Canada, the United States and South Korea. Along with artists such as Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Rachel Barton Pine, Giovanni Gnocchi, Inbal Segev, Jennifer Stumm,
William Molina Cestari, among others. As an orchestral cellist, he has toured countries in America, Europe and Asia.
In 2021 he participated as a soloist in the recording of Lucha Libre, by composer Juan Pablo Contreras, a work in which the first cello is one of the main characters, under the Universal Music record label.
His participation in International Festivals has allowed him to work with renowned teachers such as Gary Hoffmann, Phillipe Muller, Johannes Mosser, Colin Carr,
Emmanuelle Bertrand, Andrew Mark, Doo-min Kim, among others.
Angel Miguel Hernández began his musical studies at the age of 11, at the San Sebastián de los Reyes Music School, with the cellists Carlos Cobos and Jean
Carlos Coronado. Shortly after, he entered the professorship of maestro Andrés Herrera and, in turn, studied music theory and harmony with maestro Juan Soublette, as well as chamber music with maestro Florian Ebersberg. In 2012 he joined the professorship of maestro William Molina Cestari and a year later he was selected to belong to the cello group of the Simón Bolívar Orchestra of Venezuela.
Committed to pedagogical work, he offers classes in Guadalajara and has been
Guest teacher at Festivals in León and Reynosa, Mexico.
He is currently a member of the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra and Director of the Guadalajara International Music Festival, which he founded in 2021 and is an educational and philanthropic project that seeks to promote the development of young people in Mexico and
Latin America, helping them get closer to teachers with international recognition that they invite through the festival to give master classes and recitals.
Angel Hernández returns for his second summer at Cellisimo.
cello, warm, natural, round, noble and perfect for the best possible cantabile." Giovanni Gnocchi, Professor at the Mozarteum of Salzburg.
He was recently selected as Principal Cellist in the Academy Orchestra of the Korean National Symphony Orchestra, 2023 edition, in Seoul, South Korea. As part of the Academy, he also performed at the historic Deoksugung Palace, playing the Souvenir of Florence by P. I. Tchaikovsky, along with the most
academic highlights.
He has received different awards and recognitions for his participation in international competitions. In 2017 he won second prize in the international competition
for New Docta strings, performed in Córdoba, Argentina, where he also won the award for the best interpretation of the Argentine work, with Pampeana N.2 by A. Ginastera.
In 2018 he received the "Excellence Scholarship" for his outstanding participation in the
Domaine Forget Festival, held in Quebec, Canada. He received an honorable mention for his participation in the International Competition
Carlos Prieto, made in Morelia, Mexico; where he obtained fourth place in the
competition in the 2019 edition. In that same year, he was invited to the string orchestra Sphinx Virtuosi Tour, with which he made an extensive tour of the United States, performing at the most important
stages in the country, such as Carnegie Hall in New York, among others.
He has given concerts as a soloist and chamber music in Venezuela, Mexico, Ecuador, Canada, the United States and South Korea. Along with artists such as Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Rachel Barton Pine, Giovanni Gnocchi, Inbal Segev, Jennifer Stumm,
William Molina Cestari, among others. As an orchestral cellist, he has toured countries in America, Europe and Asia.
In 2021 he participated as a soloist in the recording of Lucha Libre, by composer Juan Pablo Contreras, a work in which the first cello is one of the main characters, under the Universal Music record label.
His participation in International Festivals has allowed him to work with renowned teachers such as Gary Hoffmann, Phillipe Muller, Johannes Mosser, Colin Carr,
Emmanuelle Bertrand, Andrew Mark, Doo-min Kim, among others.
Angel Miguel Hernández began his musical studies at the age of 11, at the San Sebastián de los Reyes Music School, with the cellists Carlos Cobos and Jean
Carlos Coronado. Shortly after, he entered the professorship of maestro Andrés Herrera and, in turn, studied music theory and harmony with maestro Juan Soublette, as well as chamber music with maestro Florian Ebersberg. In 2012 he joined the professorship of maestro William Molina Cestari and a year later he was selected to belong to the cello group of the Simón Bolívar Orchestra of Venezuela.
Committed to pedagogical work, he offers classes in Guadalajara and has been
Guest teacher at Festivals in León and Reynosa, Mexico.
He is currently a member of the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra and Director of the Guadalajara International Music Festival, which he founded in 2021 and is an educational and philanthropic project that seeks to promote the development of young people in Mexico and
Latin America, helping them get closer to teachers with international recognition that they invite through the festival to give master classes and recitals.
Angel Hernández returns for his second summer at Cellisimo.
Temenuzhka Ostreva
He began his musical studies at the age of 6 in his hometown of Rousse, Bulgaria and at the age of 8 he chose the cello as his main instrument. At 16 years of age he performed for the first time as a soloist with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the city of Rousse. In 1986 she obtained a master's degree in cello and chamber music with professors Z. Yordanoff and E. Bozhinova at the National Academy of Music in Sofia and in this same year she was invited to teach at that institution. T. Ostreva was a professor at the Academy of Music until 1991. From 1991 to 1996 she was principal cellist of the New Bulgarian Opera with which she toured extensively throughout Europe, the United States and Japan.
Since 1997 he has lived in Monterrey, Mexico where for 25 consecutive years he has been principal cellist of the UANL Symphony Orchestra, from which he retired in November 2022.
She is currently a cello teacher and coordinator of the strings area at the Monterrey Higher School of Music and Dance.
Temenuzhka Ostreva has won several awards from national and international competitions including the Grand Prize and the gold medal at the VIIth Svetoslav Obretenov National Competition, 1980 and in 1982 the First Prize and the gold medal at the Eighth edition of the same but this time in the adult category. In 1983 he won two more First Prizes: in the Cello Competition in honor of Prof. Sugarev and in the “Golden Diana” Chamber Music Festival as a member of the Klavier Trio. In 1984 he received First Prize in the most important Bulgarian Competition “All-Bulgarian Competition” in the cello section and Second Prize in the Chamber Music section. In 1986 he obtained a semi-finalist diploma at the VIIIth International Tchaikovsky Competition held in Moscow.
T. Ostreva has an intense concert activity: he has performed as a soloist with the Rousse Philharmonic, Bulgaria, with the Orchestra of the Academy of Music in Sofia, with the OSUANL, with the Guanajuato Orchestra, with The Valley Symphony Orchestra Texas, among other. He has participated as a recitalist and in different chamber music ensembles in the international festivals “Musical Days of the month of March” in Rousse, Bulgaria, “Santa Lucia”, “Parnassós”, “Sala Beethoven” and "Alfoncino" in Monterrey, the seasons of Radio Nuevo León and Conarte, the Festivals of Coahuila, Tamaulipas, Del Desierto de San Luis Potosí, the UN Forum of the Americas, the Nuevo León Composers Festival and numerous educational concerts with the purpose of bringing the classical music to the young people of Nuevo León.
He has shared the stage with musicians such as Jean Luis Steuermann, Alexander Markov, Ophelie Galliarde, Carlos Prieto, Andreas Frölich, Cuauhtémoc Rivera, Alvaro Bitrán, Mirthala Salazar, Vanguel Tangarov, Nargiza Kamilova and etc.
Ostreva is a founding member of the "Sofia" string quartet and later of the Colegio Civil string quartet, which was created to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the remodeling of that institution's building.
In 2009, together with the pianist Nargiza Kamilova, the Duo Kamos was formed, with which they have had very successful presentations in different forums and festivals. As a monumental project they have had, it was the presentation in two concerts of the complete work of the great German composer L.van Beethoven on the occasion of the 250th Anniversary of his birth.
Duo Kamos has shown interest in also exploring and presenting works by women composers in concerts.
Ostreva is the founder of the National High School Cello Competition, whose first edition was in 2010 and remains the only active national competition in the country. She has been invited as a member of the jury of the VII National Chamber Music Competition in Mexico City 2011 and the String Quartet Competition of the Latin American Quartet in February 2017.
This is his first summer at Cellisimo.
Since 1997 he has lived in Monterrey, Mexico where for 25 consecutive years he has been principal cellist of the UANL Symphony Orchestra, from which he retired in November 2022.
She is currently a cello teacher and coordinator of the strings area at the Monterrey Higher School of Music and Dance.
Temenuzhka Ostreva has won several awards from national and international competitions including the Grand Prize and the gold medal at the VIIth Svetoslav Obretenov National Competition, 1980 and in 1982 the First Prize and the gold medal at the Eighth edition of the same but this time in the adult category. In 1983 he won two more First Prizes: in the Cello Competition in honor of Prof. Sugarev and in the “Golden Diana” Chamber Music Festival as a member of the Klavier Trio. In 1984 he received First Prize in the most important Bulgarian Competition “All-Bulgarian Competition” in the cello section and Second Prize in the Chamber Music section. In 1986 he obtained a semi-finalist diploma at the VIIIth International Tchaikovsky Competition held in Moscow.
T. Ostreva has an intense concert activity: he has performed as a soloist with the Rousse Philharmonic, Bulgaria, with the Orchestra of the Academy of Music in Sofia, with the OSUANL, with the Guanajuato Orchestra, with The Valley Symphony Orchestra Texas, among other. He has participated as a recitalist and in different chamber music ensembles in the international festivals “Musical Days of the month of March” in Rousse, Bulgaria, “Santa Lucia”, “Parnassós”, “Sala Beethoven” and "Alfoncino" in Monterrey, the seasons of Radio Nuevo León and Conarte, the Festivals of Coahuila, Tamaulipas, Del Desierto de San Luis Potosí, the UN Forum of the Americas, the Nuevo León Composers Festival and numerous educational concerts with the purpose of bringing the classical music to the young people of Nuevo León.
He has shared the stage with musicians such as Jean Luis Steuermann, Alexander Markov, Ophelie Galliarde, Carlos Prieto, Andreas Frölich, Cuauhtémoc Rivera, Alvaro Bitrán, Mirthala Salazar, Vanguel Tangarov, Nargiza Kamilova and etc.
Ostreva is a founding member of the "Sofia" string quartet and later of the Colegio Civil string quartet, which was created to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the remodeling of that institution's building.
In 2009, together with the pianist Nargiza Kamilova, the Duo Kamos was formed, with which they have had very successful presentations in different forums and festivals. As a monumental project they have had, it was the presentation in two concerts of the complete work of the great German composer L.van Beethoven on the occasion of the 250th Anniversary of his birth.
Duo Kamos has shown interest in also exploring and presenting works by women composers in concerts.
Ostreva is the founder of the National High School Cello Competition, whose first edition was in 2010 and remains the only active national competition in the country. She has been invited as a member of the jury of the VII National Chamber Music Competition in Mexico City 2011 and the String Quartet Competition of the Latin American Quartet in February 2017.
This is his first summer at Cellisimo.
Mickey Katz
Mickey Katz joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra in September 2004. Originally from Israel, he has distinguished himself as a soloist, chamber musician, and specialist in contemporary music. He received the Presser Music Award in Boston, the Karl Zeise Award as a Tanglewood Music Center Fellow, and won first prizes at the Hudson Valley Philharmonic Competition and the Rubin Academy Competition in Tel Aviv. He has received scholarships from the America Israel Cultural Foundation since 1988. As a soloist, he has performed with various Israeli orchestras and locally with the Civic Symphony of Boston, Symphony Pro Musica, and the Hudson Valley Philharmonic.
Mickey Katz is a passionate interpreter of contemporary music. He premiered and recorded Menachem Wiesenberg's Cello Concerto with the Israel Defense Forces Orchestra and has given several US and Boston premieres of Elliott Carter's music, working with the composer. He has also worked with composers György Kurtág, John Corigliano, Leon Kirchner and John Harbison performing their music.
An active chamber musician, Mickey has performed at venues such as Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall in New York, Jordan Hall in Boston, Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice, Italy, and Salle Gaveau in Paris, as well as at all major Israeli places. He participated in the Marlboro Festival and was invited to participate in the Musicians from Marlboro tour. He has collaborated on performances with noted musicians such as violinists Pinkhas Zukerman and Gil Shaham, violists Tabea Zimmermann and Kim Kashkashian, members of the Juilliard and Guarneri string quartets, and pianist Gilbert Kalish.
Mickey completed his mandatory military service in Israel as part of the "Distinguished Musicians Program", playing in the Israel Defense Forces String Quartet, a group that performs throughout the country both in classical concerts and in many concerts. educational and outreach for soldiers and other audiences. He graduated from the New England Conservatory in Boston, where he was a student of Laurence Lesser's Piatigorsky Fellowship. His teachers included Paul Katz, Uzi Wiezel, Hillel Zori, and Uri Vardi. He teaches privately and is on the faculties of the Tanglewood Music Center and the Tanglewood Institute at Boston University.
Mickey Katz is a passionate interpreter of contemporary music. He premiered and recorded Menachem Wiesenberg's Cello Concerto with the Israel Defense Forces Orchestra and has given several US and Boston premieres of Elliott Carter's music, working with the composer. He has also worked with composers György Kurtág, John Corigliano, Leon Kirchner and John Harbison performing their music.
An active chamber musician, Mickey has performed at venues such as Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall in New York, Jordan Hall in Boston, Gallerie dell'Accademia in Venice, Italy, and Salle Gaveau in Paris, as well as at all major Israeli places. He participated in the Marlboro Festival and was invited to participate in the Musicians from Marlboro tour. He has collaborated on performances with noted musicians such as violinists Pinkhas Zukerman and Gil Shaham, violists Tabea Zimmermann and Kim Kashkashian, members of the Juilliard and Guarneri string quartets, and pianist Gilbert Kalish.
Mickey completed his mandatory military service in Israel as part of the "Distinguished Musicians Program", playing in the Israel Defense Forces String Quartet, a group that performs throughout the country both in classical concerts and in many concerts. educational and outreach for soldiers and other audiences. He graduated from the New England Conservatory in Boston, where he was a student of Laurence Lesser's Piatigorsky Fellowship. His teachers included Paul Katz, Uzi Wiezel, Hillel Zori, and Uri Vardi. He teaches privately and is on the faculties of the Tanglewood Music Center and the Tanglewood Institute at Boston University.
Guillermo Turina
Guillermo began his cello studies at the age of three with teacher Arantza López, following the Suzuki method. He continued his training with María de Macedo and Miguel Jiménez, until entering the Higher Conservatory of Music of Aragón, where he completed a degree in Music, with a specialty in cello, under the tutelage of Ángel Luis Quintana, Maite García and David. Surname. He also attended higher music courses with Jaap ter Linden, Anner Bylsma and Pieter Wispelwey.
After his bachelor's studies, he completed the Master of Music in Orchestral Performance, at the Barenboim-Said Foundation in Seville, as well as the Diploma of Higher Education in Classique and Romantic Orchestral Training in Saintes, under the tutelage of Hillary Metzger and Christophe Coin. He expanded his studies at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya, specializing in baroque cello, with Bruno Cocset, Emmanuel Balsa, Andrew Ackerman and Emilio Moreno, with the highest possible qualifications. He also studied the Master's Degree in Music and in October 2019 he received his doctorate cum laude from the Autonomous University of Barcelona for his thesis "The cello in 18th century Spain".
During his career he has played as cello soloist in orchestras such as the National Youth Orchestra of Spain, the Jeune Orchester Atlantique, the Catalan Baroque Orchestra, Al Ayre Español, Nereydas and the Baroque Orchestra of the European Union, where he has worked with teachers such as Philippe Herreweghe , Mark Minkowski, Jordi Savall, Rachel Podger and Lars Ulrik. Mortensen. His activity as a soloist has led him to perform both solo recitals and concerts with orchestra in various concert halls in Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Argentina. He is a member of La Tempestad, Paperkite and Pérgamo Ensemble.
On the other hand, his work as a musicologist has resulted in two recent publications: the critical editions and the study of cello methods written in Spain at the end of the 18th century, from SEPTENARY editions, and the book Music around the brothers Duport in the catalog of the Editorial Arpegio de Sant Cugat (Spain).
This is his first year at Cellisimo
After his bachelor's studies, he completed the Master of Music in Orchestral Performance, at the Barenboim-Said Foundation in Seville, as well as the Diploma of Higher Education in Classique and Romantic Orchestral Training in Saintes, under the tutelage of Hillary Metzger and Christophe Coin. He expanded his studies at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya, specializing in baroque cello, with Bruno Cocset, Emmanuel Balsa, Andrew Ackerman and Emilio Moreno, with the highest possible qualifications. He also studied the Master's Degree in Music and in October 2019 he received his doctorate cum laude from the Autonomous University of Barcelona for his thesis "The cello in 18th century Spain".
During his career he has played as cello soloist in orchestras such as the National Youth Orchestra of Spain, the Jeune Orchester Atlantique, the Catalan Baroque Orchestra, Al Ayre Español, Nereydas and the Baroque Orchestra of the European Union, where he has worked with teachers such as Philippe Herreweghe , Mark Minkowski, Jordi Savall, Rachel Podger and Lars Ulrik. Mortensen. His activity as a soloist has led him to perform both solo recitals and concerts with orchestra in various concert halls in Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Argentina. He is a member of La Tempestad, Paperkite and Pérgamo Ensemble.
On the other hand, his work as a musicologist has resulted in two recent publications: the critical editions and the study of cello methods written in Spain at the end of the 18th century, from SEPTENARY editions, and the book Music around the brothers Duport in the catalog of the Editorial Arpegio de Sant Cugat (Spain).
This is his first year at Cellisimo
Taide Prieto
The Peruvian cellist, Taide Prieto, is a versatile artist and passionate about teaching the cello. She is currently a professor of cello at Lawrence University (USA), where she maintains a solid study of cello students.
Taide also enjoys teaching master classes, having been invited to countries such as Italy, Mexico, the United States, Chile, and Peru.
During the years 2021 - 2022, Taide served as a cello teacher at the National University of Music of Peru. In previous years, she taught cello at the Longy School of Music's Side-by-Side program and at the University of Sciences and Arts of Chiapas in Mexico. Her passion for education led her to be co-founder and co-director of the Boston String Academy program, an El Sistema-inspired program that provides rigorous string instrument instruction to children and youth in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
As a chamber musician, Taide has collaborated with notable artists such as Joseph Silverstein, Frank Huang, Rhonda Rider and Lynn Chang. As an orchestral musician he has traveled through Europe and South America performing at the Teatro Colón in Argentina; Teresa Carreño Theater in Venezuela; Municipal Theater of Lima in Peru; The Krzysztof Penderecki European Music Center and the Royal Castle of Lublin in Poland; Kassel City Hall Auditorium in Germany, and playing under the direction of conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel, Carlos Prieto, Benjamin Zander, Kenneth Kiesler, among others.
Taide maintains an active career performing in auditoriums in the United States, Latin America and Europe. She has been a guest artist for Texas Christian University's Faculty and Friends Concert Series, Music in the Mountains Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival Faculty Concerts Series, The Boston Conservatory's String Master Series, Cervantino International Music Festival in Mexico, Violoncello Biennial from Peru, among others.
Taide earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in cello performance from the University of Michigan, where she studied with internationally renowned cellist Richard Aaron. He also holds a bachelor's degree in cello performance from Texas Christian University, a master's degree in cello performance and literature from the Eastman School of Music, and a performance diploma from the Boston Conservatory.
This is his first year at Cellisimo.
Taide also enjoys teaching master classes, having been invited to countries such as Italy, Mexico, the United States, Chile, and Peru.
During the years 2021 - 2022, Taide served as a cello teacher at the National University of Music of Peru. In previous years, she taught cello at the Longy School of Music's Side-by-Side program and at the University of Sciences and Arts of Chiapas in Mexico. Her passion for education led her to be co-founder and co-director of the Boston String Academy program, an El Sistema-inspired program that provides rigorous string instrument instruction to children and youth in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
As a chamber musician, Taide has collaborated with notable artists such as Joseph Silverstein, Frank Huang, Rhonda Rider and Lynn Chang. As an orchestral musician he has traveled through Europe and South America performing at the Teatro Colón in Argentina; Teresa Carreño Theater in Venezuela; Municipal Theater of Lima in Peru; The Krzysztof Penderecki European Music Center and the Royal Castle of Lublin in Poland; Kassel City Hall Auditorium in Germany, and playing under the direction of conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel, Carlos Prieto, Benjamin Zander, Kenneth Kiesler, among others.
Taide maintains an active career performing in auditoriums in the United States, Latin America and Europe. She has been a guest artist for Texas Christian University's Faculty and Friends Concert Series, Music in the Mountains Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival Faculty Concerts Series, The Boston Conservatory's String Master Series, Cervantino International Music Festival in Mexico, Violoncello Biennial from Peru, among others.
Taide earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in cello performance from the University of Michigan, where she studied with internationally renowned cellist Richard Aaron. He also holds a bachelor's degree in cello performance from Texas Christian University, a master's degree in cello performance and literature from the Eastman School of Music, and a performance diploma from the Boston Conservatory.
This is his first year at Cellisimo.
Mike Block
Mike Block is a pioneering cellist, singer, composer and educator, passionate about cross-cultural collaboration through music and committed to inspiring people and connecting communities. Hailed by the New York Times for his "vital and rich solo performance," and by the Salt Lake City Desert News as "a true artist... a sight to behold," the solo exhibition of
Mike Block offers a rich mix of classical repertoire, folk music, original compositions and songs. Collaborative projects include a duo with Indian tabla player Sandeep Das, a 6-piece American/African fusion band along with Malian balaphonist Balla Kouyate, and the Mike Block Trio, with Joe K. Walsh (mandolin) and Zachariah Hickman (bass).
Since 2005, Mike has been a member of Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, with which he has performed as cello and vocal soloist, contributed arrangements and compositions, and won a Grammy Award in 2017 for their album Sing Me Home.
Mike has been invited to perform as a concert soloist with the Illinois Symphony, The Knights, the National Philharmonic of China (Beijing), the Shanghai Symphony and the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, and has collaborated on performances and recordings with artists such as Stevie Wonder , Bon Iver, Will. i.am, The National, The New York Philharmonic, Bobby McFerrin, Allison Krauss, Mark O'Connor, Rachel Barton Pine, Edgar Meyer, Mike Marshall, Julian Lage and many others.
Mike is an active recording artist of original material, folk music and cross-cultural collaborations, with over a dozen albums to his name, regularly ranking near the top of multiple Billboard categories including Classical, World, Bluegrass and Classical Crossover. Mike has been a contributing producer for Facebook's Sound Collection since 2017, for which he has composed, arranged, recorded and produced around 500 recordings, ranging from Western classical music to contemporary pop and traditional music from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
Frequently in demand as an arranger, Mike has contributed arrangements for artists such as Miley Cyrus, Elton John, Bobby McFerrin, Raffi, The Knights, Parker Quartet, Angélique Kidjo, Mashrou' Leila and many of the world's top dancers as musical director of the Vail Dance Festival, where she worked closely with Damian Woetzel. Emerging as Yo-Yo Ma's "go-to" arranger, Mr. Ma has performed and/or recorded dozens of Mike's arrangements across 5 continents.
As an educator, Mike is passionate about developing creativity and collaboration among artists of all ages. In 2010, he founded Mike Block String Camp as a way to provide players from different backgrounds the opportunity to learn from world-class faculty in a variety of styles, supporting the exploration and development of each student's artistic voice.
Mike is also the founding director of Silkroad's Global Musician Workshop, designed to foster a community of globally minded musicians through immersive experiences. He teaches over 600 cello students online through his multi-style cello school at ArtistWorks.com and is the author of the book Contemporary Cello Etudes, published by Berklee Press. In 2012, Mike was appointed Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music and in 2018 he joined the faculty at New England Conservatory through the Contemporary Improvisation department.
An innovator, Mike is among the first wave of cellists to adopt a strap for standing and moving while playing, employing his patented design, The Block Strap. Mike was the first standing cellist to perform at Carnegie Hall, which The New York Times characterized as "breathless...half dance, half challenge."
In 2020, Mike founded Play For The Vote (PFTV), which hosts musical performances at polling places across the country on Election Day, with the goal of increasing voter participation by providing a more positive voting experience. .
Mike attended the Cleveland Institute of Music and earned a master's degree from the Juilliard School.
Mike lives in Boston with his wife, violinist Hanneke Cassel, and their young daughter.
Mike Block was part of the Cellisimo faculty in 2022 and this summer.
Mike Block offers a rich mix of classical repertoire, folk music, original compositions and songs. Collaborative projects include a duo with Indian tabla player Sandeep Das, a 6-piece American/African fusion band along with Malian balaphonist Balla Kouyate, and the Mike Block Trio, with Joe K. Walsh (mandolin) and Zachariah Hickman (bass).
Since 2005, Mike has been a member of Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, with which he has performed as cello and vocal soloist, contributed arrangements and compositions, and won a Grammy Award in 2017 for their album Sing Me Home.
Mike has been invited to perform as a concert soloist with the Illinois Symphony, The Knights, the National Philharmonic of China (Beijing), the Shanghai Symphony and the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, and has collaborated on performances and recordings with artists such as Stevie Wonder , Bon Iver, Will. i.am, The National, The New York Philharmonic, Bobby McFerrin, Allison Krauss, Mark O'Connor, Rachel Barton Pine, Edgar Meyer, Mike Marshall, Julian Lage and many others.
Mike is an active recording artist of original material, folk music and cross-cultural collaborations, with over a dozen albums to his name, regularly ranking near the top of multiple Billboard categories including Classical, World, Bluegrass and Classical Crossover. Mike has been a contributing producer for Facebook's Sound Collection since 2017, for which he has composed, arranged, recorded and produced around 500 recordings, ranging from Western classical music to contemporary pop and traditional music from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
Frequently in demand as an arranger, Mike has contributed arrangements for artists such as Miley Cyrus, Elton John, Bobby McFerrin, Raffi, The Knights, Parker Quartet, Angélique Kidjo, Mashrou' Leila and many of the world's top dancers as musical director of the Vail Dance Festival, where she worked closely with Damian Woetzel. Emerging as Yo-Yo Ma's "go-to" arranger, Mr. Ma has performed and/or recorded dozens of Mike's arrangements across 5 continents.
As an educator, Mike is passionate about developing creativity and collaboration among artists of all ages. In 2010, he founded Mike Block String Camp as a way to provide players from different backgrounds the opportunity to learn from world-class faculty in a variety of styles, supporting the exploration and development of each student's artistic voice.
Mike is also the founding director of Silkroad's Global Musician Workshop, designed to foster a community of globally minded musicians through immersive experiences. He teaches over 600 cello students online through his multi-style cello school at ArtistWorks.com and is the author of the book Contemporary Cello Etudes, published by Berklee Press. In 2012, Mike was appointed Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music and in 2018 he joined the faculty at New England Conservatory through the Contemporary Improvisation department.
An innovator, Mike is among the first wave of cellists to adopt a strap for standing and moving while playing, employing his patented design, The Block Strap. Mike was the first standing cellist to perform at Carnegie Hall, which The New York Times characterized as "breathless...half dance, half challenge."
In 2020, Mike founded Play For The Vote (PFTV), which hosts musical performances at polling places across the country on Election Day, with the goal of increasing voter participation by providing a more positive voting experience. .
Mike attended the Cleveland Institute of Music and earned a master's degree from the Juilliard School.
Mike lives in Boston with his wife, violinist Hanneke Cassel, and their young daughter.
Mike Block was part of the Cellisimo faculty in 2022 and this summer.
Wellness Team:
Roberto Ramirez
Meditation, Mindfulness, Holistic Life Coach.
I was born in Guatemala in 1981. I was always very curious about Buddhism and I started to meditate at the age of 12 because of a book I found in a library, although I started to take it seriously at the age of 18 while I was going through a very hard period of my life. Since then I have only gone deeper and deeper into the subject, experimenting with different types of meditations, breath work and other techniques. I moved to Europe in 2007 looking for better life and work opportunities. In my journey of life I was blessed to meet more teachers and I continued to experiment with even more tools and began to see how my life was transforming. I was becoming my first client. I experimented mixing all the techniques I had learned and my life changed radically in a very short time: meditation, mindfulness, breath work, visualization, ho'oponopono and more.
I have always dreamed of sharing my knowledge and experiences with people and showing them the value of living an emotionally healthy life. Our emotions influence and affect every area of our lives and they can either mpower or weaken our actions and strength. This helped me decide to start organizing wellness and emotional health retreats in 2018. Thanks to all this and the experience that we have all lived with Covid19 it was possible reach even more people and demonstrate the power of meditation and mindfulness.
I was born in Guatemala in 1981. I was always very curious about Buddhism and I started to meditate at the age of 12 because of a book I found in a library, although I started to take it seriously at the age of 18 while I was going through a very hard period of my life. Since then I have only gone deeper and deeper into the subject, experimenting with different types of meditations, breath work and other techniques. I moved to Europe in 2007 looking for better life and work opportunities. In my journey of life I was blessed to meet more teachers and I continued to experiment with even more tools and began to see how my life was transforming. I was becoming my first client. I experimented mixing all the techniques I had learned and my life changed radically in a very short time: meditation, mindfulness, breath work, visualization, ho'oponopono and more.
I have always dreamed of sharing my knowledge and experiences with people and showing them the value of living an emotionally healthy life. Our emotions influence and affect every area of our lives and they can either mpower or weaken our actions and strength. This helped me decide to start organizing wellness and emotional health retreats in 2018. Thanks to all this and the experience that we have all lived with Covid19 it was possible reach even more people and demonstrate the power of meditation and mindfulness.
Lena Svilena
yoga teacher.
Namaste, my name is Lena and I am a loving free spirit. I practice and share different self-knowledge techniques such as Hatha Raja, Dharma Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Reiki and Cacao ceremonies. My physical body was born in Bulgaria, while my soul has lived in many parts of the world (Mexico, the Netherlands, Asia and right now Spain), always finding its home in nature and in the mind/body/spirit connection. However, the most important journey of my life has been the journey within. Yoga came into my life when I was just 17 years old through the practice of pranayama (yogic breathing). From this sacred place, I share everything I have experienced in my humble spiritual journey.
Namaste, my name is Lena and I am a loving free spirit. I practice and share different self-knowledge techniques such as Hatha Raja, Dharma Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Reiki and Cacao ceremonies. My physical body was born in Bulgaria, while my soul has lived in many parts of the world (Mexico, the Netherlands, Asia and right now Spain), always finding its home in nature and in the mind/body/spirit connection. However, the most important journey of my life has been the journey within. Yoga came into my life when I was just 17 years old through the practice of pranayama (yogic breathing). From this sacred place, I share everything I have experienced in my humble spiritual journey.
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