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Participants of the Cellisimo Festival 2026
Grecia Villarreal, 24, Mexico
Grecia Villarreal is a Mexican cellist originally from Monterrey, Nuevo León. She began her musical studies at age 11 with the Esperanza Azteca Nuevo León Symphony Orchestra. In 2020, she won first place in the youth category of the "Lo mejor de
quedARTE en casa" (The Best of Staying Home) competition, organized by the Superior School of Music and Dance of Monterrey, where she completed her Bachelor's degree in Cello Performance under the tutelage of Professor Temenuzhka Ostreva. In 2025, she earned an Artist Diploma with distinction from the Academy Music Conservatory, studying in the studio of Professor Ilmari Hopkins.
She has participated in high-level international festivals and programs, including the Global String Program at Berklee College of Music, the CelloBello Audition Preparation Workshop, the León International Cello Festival, the Guadalajara International Music Festival, and Cellisimo. Throughout these programs, she has received masterclasses from cellists such as Claudio Bohorquez, Amit Peled, John-Henry Crawford, Valérie Aimard, Zvi Plesser, Giovanni Gnocchi, Michal Shein, Christine Lamprea, and Horacio Contreras, among others.
In the orchestral field, she served as principal cellist at the Azteca Symphony Orchestra Residency in 2025 and is an active member of the Super Philharmonic Orchestra of the Higher School of Music and Performing Arts of the Metropolitan Municipality of San Marcos (ESMDM). She has also participated as a guest musician with the Symphony Orchestra of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León and the Desert Philharmonic.
In the orchestral field, she served as principal cellist at the Azteca Symphony Orchestra Residency in 2025 and is an active member of the Super Philharmonic Orchestra of the ESMDM.
quedARTE en casa" (The Best of Staying Home) competition, organized by the Superior School of Music and Dance of Monterrey, where she completed her Bachelor's degree in Cello Performance under the tutelage of Professor Temenuzhka Ostreva. In 2025, she earned an Artist Diploma with distinction from the Academy Music Conservatory, studying in the studio of Professor Ilmari Hopkins.
She has participated in high-level international festivals and programs, including the Global String Program at Berklee College of Music, the CelloBello Audition Preparation Workshop, the León International Cello Festival, the Guadalajara International Music Festival, and Cellisimo. Throughout these programs, she has received masterclasses from cellists such as Claudio Bohorquez, Amit Peled, John-Henry Crawford, Valérie Aimard, Zvi Plesser, Giovanni Gnocchi, Michal Shein, Christine Lamprea, and Horacio Contreras, among others.
In the orchestral field, she served as principal cellist at the Azteca Symphony Orchestra Residency in 2025 and is an active member of the Super Philharmonic Orchestra of the Higher School of Music and Performing Arts of the Metropolitan Municipality of San Marcos (ESMDM). She has also participated as a guest musician with the Symphony Orchestra of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León and the Desert Philharmonic.
In the orchestral field, she served as principal cellist at the Azteca Symphony Orchestra Residency in 2025 and is an active member of the Super Philharmonic Orchestra of the ESMDM.
Diego Lara, 17, Panama
Diego Lara is a 17-year-old cellist whose musical journey began at age four as part of Venezuela's System of Youth and Children's Orchestras and Choirs. Since arriving in Panama at age six, music has become not only an artistic language but also a space for adaptation, growth, and purpose.
However, it was in 2020 that he was able to formally return to the instrument thanks to the Sinfonía Concertante Panamá Foundation, marking the beginning of rapid and profoundly significant growth. His discipline, artistic sensitivity, and commitment to excellence have led him to represent Panama on national and international stages, establishing himself as one of the most promising young talents in classical music in the region.
Diego has participated in the FICUCR 2024 festival, the New England Conservatory Summer Orchestra Institute, the Guadalajara International Music Festival 2026, and is a recipient of the Sound Impact CEP scholarship for 2025-2026. He will also participate in the National Summer Orchestra-SMI 2026.
His principal teachers have been Salomé Pérez and Leandro Bandrés (Venezuela), and Yumiko Tokumoto, Gisselle Burgos, Geisha Quirós, and Adán Caldera (Panama).
He has participated in masterclasses with Giovanni Gnocchi, Ángel Sánchez, Amit Peled, William Molina, and Mickey Katz.
However, it was in 2020 that he was able to formally return to the instrument thanks to the Sinfonía Concertante Panamá Foundation, marking the beginning of rapid and profoundly significant growth. His discipline, artistic sensitivity, and commitment to excellence have led him to represent Panama on national and international stages, establishing himself as one of the most promising young talents in classical music in the region.
Diego has participated in the FICUCR 2024 festival, the New England Conservatory Summer Orchestra Institute, the Guadalajara International Music Festival 2026, and is a recipient of the Sound Impact CEP scholarship for 2025-2026. He will also participate in the National Summer Orchestra-SMI 2026.
His principal teachers have been Salomé Pérez and Leandro Bandrés (Venezuela), and Yumiko Tokumoto, Gisselle Burgos, Geisha Quirós, and Adán Caldera (Panama).
He has participated in masterclasses with Giovanni Gnocchi, Ángel Sánchez, Amit Peled, William Molina, and Mickey Katz.
Jessica Pérez, 20, Venezuela
Jessica Arley Pérez Hinojosa, a 20-year-old born in Mérida, Venezuela, began her musical studies at the age of two, initially focusing on the violin and later, at six, on the cello. She studied at the National System of Youth and Children's Orchestras and Choirs of Venezuela (Sistema Nacional de Orquestas), Mérida branch, under the tutelage of Professor Atamaica Ruíz, and subsequently with professors such as Yuri Rodriguez, Cruz Rojas, and Clara Rodriguez.
She has participated in masterclasses with renowned teachers such as Germán Marcano, Tulio Rondón, Horacio Contreras, and Michal Shein, among other international and national instructors.
She has also participated in festivals and courses such as the Cellísimo Festival in 2021 and 2022, and the Caracas String Academy course in 2020, 2021, and 2023.
In 2022, she joined the Mérida State Symphony Orchestra as a tutti player, and in 2025, she won the audition for the position of Assistant Conductor in the same orchestra.
In 2024, she enrolled in the Bachelor of Music program at the University of the Andes, where she completed her third year of studies, beginning classes with Professor Clara Rodriguez. She has performed as a soloist on three occasions, interpreting works by Saint-Saëns, Lalo, and Haydn, with the Mérida Regional Youth Symphony Orchestra, where she held the position of principal cellist from 2021 to 2025.
She has participated in masterclasses with renowned teachers such as Germán Marcano, Tulio Rondón, Horacio Contreras, and Michal Shein, among other international and national instructors.
She has also participated in festivals and courses such as the Cellísimo Festival in 2021 and 2022, and the Caracas String Academy course in 2020, 2021, and 2023.
In 2022, she joined the Mérida State Symphony Orchestra as a tutti player, and in 2025, she won the audition for the position of Assistant Conductor in the same orchestra.
In 2024, she enrolled in the Bachelor of Music program at the University of the Andes, where she completed her third year of studies, beginning classes with Professor Clara Rodriguez. She has performed as a soloist on three occasions, interpreting works by Saint-Saëns, Lalo, and Haydn, with the Mérida Regional Youth Symphony Orchestra, where she held the position of principal cellist from 2021 to 2025.
Juan Ángel Moreno Cárdenas, 19, Colombia
Juan Ángel Moreno Cárdenas is a Colombian cellist whose musical activity encompasses solo, orchestral, and chamber music performance. His artistic development has been marked by constant work with prominent performers and by his participation in national and international festivals, academies, and competitions.
He began his musical studies with Fidel Mario Castillo, a member of the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia, and later continued his artistic training with Tomás Ojeda, Iván León, also a member of the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia, and José David Márquez, principal cellist of the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra.
He is also a member of the Cakike Foundation, an organization committed to supporting the artistic development of young musicians in Colombia.
Throughout his training, he has participated in masterclasses with internationally renowned musicians, including Santiago Cañón-Valencia, Victor Julien-Laferrière, and Márcio Carneiro, among others. He also participated in the Aruba Symphony Festival and Academy, where he won first prize in the festival competition and performed as a soloist under the direction and guidance of Benjamin Zander.
In 2025, he was selected by Claudio Bohórquez to participate in the Rutesheim Cello Academy in Germany, an experience that significantly contributed to his artistic growth and international exposure.
Juan Ángel has received recognition in young soloists' competitions organized by the Cali Philharmonic Orchestra, the Caldas Symphony Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia, performing as a guest soloist with these ensembles.
He has also performed at the Luis Ángel Arango Library as part of the prestigious Young Performers Series. Considered one of the most important venues in Latin America for chamber music, this stage has hosted some of the world's most outstanding cellists and international artists.
Alongside his work as a soloist and orchestral musician, Juan Ángel continues to expand his artistic and professional development through international experiences, advanced performance opportunities, and collaborations with musicians from diverse artistic backgrounds.
He began his musical studies with Fidel Mario Castillo, a member of the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia, and later continued his artistic training with Tomás Ojeda, Iván León, also a member of the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia, and José David Márquez, principal cellist of the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra.
He is also a member of the Cakike Foundation, an organization committed to supporting the artistic development of young musicians in Colombia.
Throughout his training, he has participated in masterclasses with internationally renowned musicians, including Santiago Cañón-Valencia, Victor Julien-Laferrière, and Márcio Carneiro, among others. He also participated in the Aruba Symphony Festival and Academy, where he won first prize in the festival competition and performed as a soloist under the direction and guidance of Benjamin Zander.
In 2025, he was selected by Claudio Bohórquez to participate in the Rutesheim Cello Academy in Germany, an experience that significantly contributed to his artistic growth and international exposure.
Juan Ángel has received recognition in young soloists' competitions organized by the Cali Philharmonic Orchestra, the Caldas Symphony Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia, performing as a guest soloist with these ensembles.
He has also performed at the Luis Ángel Arango Library as part of the prestigious Young Performers Series. Considered one of the most important venues in Latin America for chamber music, this stage has hosted some of the world's most outstanding cellists and international artists.
Alongside his work as a soloist and orchestral musician, Juan Ángel continues to expand his artistic and professional development through international experiences, advanced performance opportunities, and collaborations with musicians from diverse artistic backgrounds.
María Karla Rifat Rodríguez, 19, Cuba
A graduate with highest honors from the Matanzas Professional School of Art in Cuba, she is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree, specializing in cello, at the Higher Institute of Music of Cuba (University of the Arts, ISA). She has developed a solid artistic foundation focused on cello performance, with a particular emphasis on chamber music and orchestral practice.
She has performed as a soloist at the Matanzas Chamber Music Festivals, as well as at the Havana Clásica International Festival, the Jazz Plaza International Festival, and the Edgardo Martín Guitar Festival. She has participated in masterclasses with renowned cellists such as Douglas Vistel, Sonja Kraus, and Lorenzo Meseguer at the Lyceum Mozartiano in Havana.
She has shared the stage with renowned musicians such as Frank Fernández and Niurka González, and has been a member of ensembles including the ISA Symphony Orchestra, the Matanzas Symphony Orchestra, the José White Camerata, and the Concierto Sur Chamber Orchestra.
She was awarded the Grand Prize at the José Manuel Vázquez del Rey Competition-Festival and the Third Prize at the Cuban National Music Competition, sponsored by the Young Artists Fund and UNICEF. She has also performed at important venues in Cuba, including the Sauto Theater, the Tomás Terry Theater, the National Museum of Fine Arts Theater, and the Avellaneda Hall at the National Theater of Cuba.
In 2026, she was selected to join the Ibero-American Youth Orchestra, whose edition will take place in Colombia, bringing together outstanding young musicians from various countries in the region.
She defines herself as a performer committed to musical excellence and constant growth, with the desire to contribute, through art, to the culture and sensibilities of her country.
She has performed as a soloist at the Matanzas Chamber Music Festivals, as well as at the Havana Clásica International Festival, the Jazz Plaza International Festival, and the Edgardo Martín Guitar Festival. She has participated in masterclasses with renowned cellists such as Douglas Vistel, Sonja Kraus, and Lorenzo Meseguer at the Lyceum Mozartiano in Havana.
She has shared the stage with renowned musicians such as Frank Fernández and Niurka González, and has been a member of ensembles including the ISA Symphony Orchestra, the Matanzas Symphony Orchestra, the José White Camerata, and the Concierto Sur Chamber Orchestra.
She was awarded the Grand Prize at the José Manuel Vázquez del Rey Competition-Festival and the Third Prize at the Cuban National Music Competition, sponsored by the Young Artists Fund and UNICEF. She has also performed at important venues in Cuba, including the Sauto Theater, the Tomás Terry Theater, the National Museum of Fine Arts Theater, and the Avellaneda Hall at the National Theater of Cuba.
In 2026, she was selected to join the Ibero-American Youth Orchestra, whose edition will take place in Colombia, bringing together outstanding young musicians from various countries in the region.
She defines herself as a performer committed to musical excellence and constant growth, with the desire to contribute, through art, to the culture and sensibilities of her country.
Daniel Suárez Nordet, 20, Mexico/Cuba
Daniel Suárez Nordet is a young Cuban cellist, born on April 20, 2006. He grew up in a musical environment thanks to his father, Carlos Suárez Morejón, a violinist, and his brother, Carlos Suárez Nordet, also a violinist. From a young age, he was surrounded by music at home.
At age 7, he began his academic and musical studies at the Alejandro García Caturla School in Cuba, where he also began playing the cello. He was selected from among 200 applicants as one of only two accepted to study at this institution.
At age 9, he was selected to continue his musical training in Mexico, entering the Carmen Romano School. Since then, he has studied cello under the tutelage of Marieta Ivanova.
Among his most notable achievements, Daniel was a soloist in 2016 alongside cellist Renata de la Peña in Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Cellos, performed with the Children's Orchestra of the Superior School of Music and Dance of Monterrey. That same year, she won first place in the National Cello Competition at that institution. In 2018, she took third place, and in 2023, second place in the same competition. Also in 2023, she was a soloist in Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto in E minor, performed with her school and later with the ISMEA Puebla Orchestra, after winning the Fifth National Soloists Competition in 2024. In 2026, she was a soloist with the orchestra of the Superior School of Music and Dance of Monterrey, performing the third movement of Antonín Dvořák's Cello Concerto in B minor, after again winning the ESMDM Soloists Competition in 2026.
She has participated in masterclasses with renowned cellists such as Steven Isserlis, Santiago Cañón Valencia, Giovanni Gnocchi, Amit Peled, William Molina, Zvi Plesser, Michal Shein, Álvaro Bitrán, and Marie Ythier, among others. He was a member of the Mexican Children's Symphony Orchestra in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023. In 2024, he participated in the Cellísimo Festival, where he worked with maestros such as Christine Lamprea and Germán Marcano. He was selected for the Azteca Symphony Orchestra in 2025, conducted by Maestro Carlos Miguel Prieto, and for the OAcademy in 2025. He also received a scholarship for his outstanding performance at the 2025 Guadalajara International Music Festival (FIMG) and won a bow from master bow maker Daniela Santoyo. In 2025, he won first place in the National Cello Competition at Level 4, as well as the award for best performance of a Mexican piece in the same competition. In 2026, he again participated in the Guadalajara International Music Festival, performing Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence string sextet with Maestro Nancy Zhu.
She is currently in her seventh year of a Bachelor's degree in Cello Performance at the Superior School of Music and Dance in Monterrey. She is also a member of the string trio "The Suárez Strings," along with her father and brother.
At age 7, he began his academic and musical studies at the Alejandro García Caturla School in Cuba, where he also began playing the cello. He was selected from among 200 applicants as one of only two accepted to study at this institution.
At age 9, he was selected to continue his musical training in Mexico, entering the Carmen Romano School. Since then, he has studied cello under the tutelage of Marieta Ivanova.
Among his most notable achievements, Daniel was a soloist in 2016 alongside cellist Renata de la Peña in Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Cellos, performed with the Children's Orchestra of the Superior School of Music and Dance of Monterrey. That same year, she won first place in the National Cello Competition at that institution. In 2018, she took third place, and in 2023, second place in the same competition. Also in 2023, she was a soloist in Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto in E minor, performed with her school and later with the ISMEA Puebla Orchestra, after winning the Fifth National Soloists Competition in 2024. In 2026, she was a soloist with the orchestra of the Superior School of Music and Dance of Monterrey, performing the third movement of Antonín Dvořák's Cello Concerto in B minor, after again winning the ESMDM Soloists Competition in 2026.
She has participated in masterclasses with renowned cellists such as Steven Isserlis, Santiago Cañón Valencia, Giovanni Gnocchi, Amit Peled, William Molina, Zvi Plesser, Michal Shein, Álvaro Bitrán, and Marie Ythier, among others. He was a member of the Mexican Children's Symphony Orchestra in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023. In 2024, he participated in the Cellísimo Festival, where he worked with maestros such as Christine Lamprea and Germán Marcano. He was selected for the Azteca Symphony Orchestra in 2025, conducted by Maestro Carlos Miguel Prieto, and for the OAcademy in 2025. He also received a scholarship for his outstanding performance at the 2025 Guadalajara International Music Festival (FIMG) and won a bow from master bow maker Daniela Santoyo. In 2025, he won first place in the National Cello Competition at Level 4, as well as the award for best performance of a Mexican piece in the same competition. In 2026, he again participated in the Guadalajara International Music Festival, performing Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence string sextet with Maestro Nancy Zhu.
She is currently in her seventh year of a Bachelor's degree in Cello Performance at the Superior School of Music and Dance in Monterrey. She is also a member of the string trio "The Suárez Strings," along with her father and brother.
Alex Aranzabal, 21, USA
Alex is a cellist whose art is fueled by love, community, and pride. A full scholarship recipient at the Walnut Hill School of the Arts, he studied with Mark Churchill, whose mentorship fosters a greater awareness of social injustices and the role of music beyond the stage.
Currently a student at the New England Conservatory, Alex continues to refine his technique under the tutelage of Yeesun Kim, cellist of the prestigious Borromeo Quartet.
Alex is the founder and president of Musicians for Humanity, a student organization dedicated to using music in service to community and justice. Through this initiative, he coordinates collaborative performances at Common Cathedral, a community center for the homeless, organizes empowering readings, and leads fundraising campaigns for causes related to equity and human rights.
Passionate about presenting contemporary perspectives, Alex actively performs and promotes new works. He is committed to premiering contemporary compositions, such as Arson Fahim’s *Remnants of a Dream*, which give voice to stories rarely represented in classical music.
This summer, he will perform at the Orford Music Academy in Canada, exploring themes of heritage, identity, and belonging through a carefully curated program of diverse composers.
During the summers, Alexander remains musically active by participating in music festivals and tours. His recent international orchestral performances include tours of Greece, South Africa, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Mexico, and the Czech Republic with the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, as well as a tour of Switzerland and the UK with the Stretto Youth Chamber Ensemble. He has participated in the Philadelphia International Festival’s intensive solo program, *Music in the Manor*, in Miami; at the Sphinx Performance Academy (at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Juilliard) for five summers; and at the Encore Music Festival and the Bowdoin International Music Festival. Alexander attended three intensive three-week courses dedicated to the cello and the Feldenkrais Method, as well as a weekend seminar focused on the Baroque cellist Dall’Abaco. He also had the opportunity to participate in the inaugural ToneBase Cello Festival in Boston, where he attended classes and performed in masterclasses led by prominent cello educators from around the world. This summer, in addition to participating in Cellisimo, Alexander will perform as a guest artist at the Dutch Fruit Festival and participate in the Equity Arc VIA Academy in Miami, Florida.
In 2023, Alexander won second place at the Radda International Competition and first place at the International Music Academy Competition in Italy in 2024. In 2025, he was awarded second place at the Opus Competition, and this year he won the Central New Jersey Youth Orchestra Concert Competition and the Summit Symphony Young Artists Concert Competition. Alexander also earned third place in the U.S. Marine Band's national concert competition. He was featured on NPR's "From the Top" and interviewed by Classical 89.1 FM in Central New Jersey. For the past three years, Alexander has organized and performed benefit concerts for various causes, including the California Wildfire Direct Giving Fund, the construction of a new performing arts center in Lake City, South Carolina, and a scholarship fund for the Blue Mountain Festival Music Summer Camp. He recently received the Lucy Ducko Scholarship, which recognizes college-age students who have demonstrated a commitment to community service. Alexander is also a member of Music of the Heart, a student-run organization in New Jersey that hosts regular performances in hospitals and senior care facilities. In the fall of 2026, Alexander will study with Philippe Muller at the Manhattan School of Music, where he received the Project 440 scholarship, which covers his full tuition.
When he's not playing the cello, Alexander enjoys taking walks in nature and playing chess in his free time. For Alexander, music is a precious gift, and he is grateful to his parents, grandparents, family, and all his teachers—past and present—who have shared his musical journey.
Currently a student at the New England Conservatory, Alex continues to refine his technique under the tutelage of Yeesun Kim, cellist of the prestigious Borromeo Quartet.
Alex is the founder and president of Musicians for Humanity, a student organization dedicated to using music in service to community and justice. Through this initiative, he coordinates collaborative performances at Common Cathedral, a community center for the homeless, organizes empowering readings, and leads fundraising campaigns for causes related to equity and human rights.
Passionate about presenting contemporary perspectives, Alex actively performs and promotes new works. He is committed to premiering contemporary compositions, such as Arson Fahim’s *Remnants of a Dream*, which give voice to stories rarely represented in classical music.
This summer, he will perform at the Orford Music Academy in Canada, exploring themes of heritage, identity, and belonging through a carefully curated program of diverse composers.
During the summers, Alexander remains musically active by participating in music festivals and tours. His recent international orchestral performances include tours of Greece, South Africa, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Mexico, and the Czech Republic with the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, as well as a tour of Switzerland and the UK with the Stretto Youth Chamber Ensemble. He has participated in the Philadelphia International Festival’s intensive solo program, *Music in the Manor*, in Miami; at the Sphinx Performance Academy (at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Juilliard) for five summers; and at the Encore Music Festival and the Bowdoin International Music Festival. Alexander attended three intensive three-week courses dedicated to the cello and the Feldenkrais Method, as well as a weekend seminar focused on the Baroque cellist Dall’Abaco. He also had the opportunity to participate in the inaugural ToneBase Cello Festival in Boston, where he attended classes and performed in masterclasses led by prominent cello educators from around the world. This summer, in addition to participating in Cellisimo, Alexander will perform as a guest artist at the Dutch Fruit Festival and participate in the Equity Arc VIA Academy in Miami, Florida.
In 2023, Alexander won second place at the Radda International Competition and first place at the International Music Academy Competition in Italy in 2024. In 2025, he was awarded second place at the Opus Competition, and this year he won the Central New Jersey Youth Orchestra Concert Competition and the Summit Symphony Young Artists Concert Competition. Alexander also earned third place in the U.S. Marine Band's national concert competition. He was featured on NPR's "From the Top" and interviewed by Classical 89.1 FM in Central New Jersey. For the past three years, Alexander has organized and performed benefit concerts for various causes, including the California Wildfire Direct Giving Fund, the construction of a new performing arts center in Lake City, South Carolina, and a scholarship fund for the Blue Mountain Festival Music Summer Camp. He recently received the Lucy Ducko Scholarship, which recognizes college-age students who have demonstrated a commitment to community service. Alexander is also a member of Music of the Heart, a student-run organization in New Jersey that hosts regular performances in hospitals and senior care facilities. In the fall of 2026, Alexander will study with Philippe Muller at the Manhattan School of Music, where he received the Project 440 scholarship, which covers his full tuition.
When he's not playing the cello, Alexander enjoys taking walks in nature and playing chess in his free time. For Alexander, music is a precious gift, and he is grateful to his parents, grandparents, family, and all his teachers—past and present—who have shared his musical journey.
Camila Vargas, 20, Venezuela/Spain
Camila Vargas Pereira (Caracas, 2002) is a Venezuelan-Spanish cellist. She is currently pursuing advanced studies in Cello and Sonology at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid, where she studies Cello with Cecilia de Monserrat Campa Anso and María Martínez, and Sonology with Julián Ávila Sausor. She has furthered her training through courses and masterclasses with prominent international professors and musicians, including Germán Marcano, Anzél Gerber, and Michal Shein. Notable among these courses are the Aldo Parisot Duo Course, the DaCapo Course in Granada, and the Talent Music Summer Courses in Brescia. In 2014, she performed as a soloist with the Venezuelan Philharmonic Orchestra.
She has been a member of various orchestral groups in Spain, including the JORCAM (Youth Orchestra of the Community of Madrid), the Spanish Philharmonic Orchestra, the Madrid Metropolitan Orchestra, the Carlos Cruz Diez Symphony Orchestra (where she is principal cellist), the Malaga Symphony Orchestra, and the Mercadante Symphony Orchestra, with which she toured China during the 2024-2025 season. She has also participated in the musical productions Malinche and Malinche Symphonic, produced by Nacho Cano, touring various cities in Spain. Her concert career has also taken her to perform on international stages, participating in tours and artistic projects in Austria, Switzerland, and Italy. Among her recent performances, her participation in the concert celebrating the pontificate of Leo XIV at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid stands out, as does her participation in a showcase for the singer Giulia, presented by Sony Music Spain.
Although her training also encompasses areas such as composition, music production, and new technologies applied to music, developed especially through her studies in Sonology, her main artistic activity focuses on cello performance.
She has been a member of various orchestral groups in Spain, including the JORCAM (Youth Orchestra of the Community of Madrid), the Spanish Philharmonic Orchestra, the Madrid Metropolitan Orchestra, the Carlos Cruz Diez Symphony Orchestra (where she is principal cellist), the Malaga Symphony Orchestra, and the Mercadante Symphony Orchestra, with which she toured China during the 2024-2025 season. She has also participated in the musical productions Malinche and Malinche Symphonic, produced by Nacho Cano, touring various cities in Spain. Her concert career has also taken her to perform on international stages, participating in tours and artistic projects in Austria, Switzerland, and Italy. Among her recent performances, her participation in the concert celebrating the pontificate of Leo XIV at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid stands out, as does her participation in a showcase for the singer Giulia, presented by Sony Music Spain.
Although her training also encompasses areas such as composition, music production, and new technologies applied to music, developed especially through her studies in Sonology, her main artistic activity focuses on cello performance.
Emmanuel Lafontaine, 15, Mexico
Emmanuel Lafontaine Tricot was born in 2011 and began his musical studies at age 5 at the Novo Tempo Music Academy, learning cello, solfège, and choral singing. His teachers included Isaac Loreto (Venezuela), Areli Medeles (Mexico), Mercedes Hernandez (Cuba), and currently Roberto Pérez (Venezuela).
At age 10, he won second prize in the National Competition of the University of Colima in the 9-12 year old strings category. In 2026, he received third prize in the Geneva International Online Cello Competition.
He has participated for two consecutive summers in the Mosset Music Camp (France), receiving instruction in cello, chamber music, and orchestra, and in 2025 he attended the music camp organized by the “Quatuor Debussy” in France.
In June 2024, he was invited to participate in the Strings Summer Camp of Tallahassee, Florida, receiving a full scholarship. In April 2026, after a 10-day intensive course at the Guadalajara International Music Festival, he received an excellence scholarship.
At age 12, he gave his first solo concert with the Zapopan Orchestra under the direction of Allen Vladimir Gómez, performing Goltermann's Piano Concerto No. 3. In 2023, he was accepted as the youngest musician in the International Youth Orchestra, studying at French Lycées around the world and performing a series of concerts in Vienna, Austria. He repeated this experience in 2024 in Brussels, Belgium, and in 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal.
He has participated in masterclasses with Giovanni Gnocchi, Kamila Pietrzik, Marie Madeleine Mille, Ángel Hernández, Amit Peled, William Molina, and Cédric Conchon.
Since 2025, he has been invited by the Soloists of America Orchestra to perform in various concerts during their season.
At age 10, he won second prize in the National Competition of the University of Colima in the 9-12 year old strings category. In 2026, he received third prize in the Geneva International Online Cello Competition.
He has participated for two consecutive summers in the Mosset Music Camp (France), receiving instruction in cello, chamber music, and orchestra, and in 2025 he attended the music camp organized by the “Quatuor Debussy” in France.
In June 2024, he was invited to participate in the Strings Summer Camp of Tallahassee, Florida, receiving a full scholarship. In April 2026, after a 10-day intensive course at the Guadalajara International Music Festival, he received an excellence scholarship.
At age 12, he gave his first solo concert with the Zapopan Orchestra under the direction of Allen Vladimir Gómez, performing Goltermann's Piano Concerto No. 3. In 2023, he was accepted as the youngest musician in the International Youth Orchestra, studying at French Lycées around the world and performing a series of concerts in Vienna, Austria. He repeated this experience in 2024 in Brussels, Belgium, and in 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal.
He has participated in masterclasses with Giovanni Gnocchi, Kamila Pietrzik, Marie Madeleine Mille, Ángel Hernández, Amit Peled, William Molina, and Cédric Conchon.
Since 2025, he has been invited by the Soloists of America Orchestra to perform in various concerts during their season.
Alex Fiszer, 18, USA
Alexander Fiszer is a senior at Liberty University Online Academy and has been playing the cello for twelve years. He is principal cellist with three orchestras in New Jersey and a member of the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. He is also a student in the preparatory program at the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studies with Mark Churchill, and has had the privilege of studying with renowned cellists such as Evangeline Benedetti, David Szepessy, Uri Vardi, Susan Moses Bloom, Kevin Krentz, and Minna Rose Chung.
During the summers, Alexander stays musically active by participating in music festivals and tours. His recent international orchestral performances include tours of Greece, South Africa, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Mexico, and the Czech Republic with the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, as well as a tour of Switzerland and the United Kingdom with the Stretto Youth Chamber Ensemble. He has participated in the Philadelphia International Festival's intensive solo program, "Music in the Manor," in Miami. Alexander studied at the Sphinx Performance Academy (at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Juilliard) for five summers, and at the Encore Music Festival and the Bowdoin International Music Festival. He attended three intensive three-week courses dedicated to cello and the Feldenkrais Method, as well as a weekend seminar focused on the Baroque cellist Dall’Abaco. He also had the opportunity to participate in the inaugural ToneBase Cello Festival in Boston, where he attended classes and performed in masterclasses led by prominent cello educators from around the world. This summer, in addition to participating in Cellisimo, Alexander will be a guest artist at the Dutch Fruit Festival and will participate in Equity Arc’s VIA Academy in Miami, Florida.
In 2023, Alexander placed second in the Radda International Competition and won first place in the International Music Academy Competition in Italy in 2024. In 2025, he was awarded second place in the Opus Competition, and this year, he won the Central New Jersey Youth Orchestra Concert Competition and the Summit Symphony Young Artists Concert Competition. Alexander also placed third in the U.S. Marine Band National Concert Competition. In addition, he was featured on NPR's "From the Top" and interviewed by Central New Jersey's Classical 89.1 FM.
For the past three years, Alexander has organized and performed fundraising recitals for various causes, including the California Wildfire Direct Giving Fund, the construction of a new performing arts center in Lake City, South Carolina, and a scholarship fund for the Blue Mountain Festival music summer camp. He recently received the Lucy Ducko Scholarship, which recognizes young students preparing for college who have demonstrated a commitment to community service.
Alexander is also a member of Music of the Heart, a student-run organization in New Jersey that organizes regular performances in hospitals and senior care facilities. In the fall of 2026, Alexander will study with Philippe Muller at the Manhattan School of Music, where he received the Project 440 scholarship, which covers his full tuition.
When he's not playing the cello, Alexander enjoys hiking in nature and playing chess in his free time. For Alexander, music is a precious gift, and he is grateful to his parents, grandparents, family, and all his teachers—past and present—who have shared his musical journey.
During the summers, Alexander stays musically active by participating in music festivals and tours. His recent international orchestral performances include tours of Greece, South Africa, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Mexico, and the Czech Republic with the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, as well as a tour of Switzerland and the United Kingdom with the Stretto Youth Chamber Ensemble. He has participated in the Philadelphia International Festival's intensive solo program, "Music in the Manor," in Miami. Alexander studied at the Sphinx Performance Academy (at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Juilliard) for five summers, and at the Encore Music Festival and the Bowdoin International Music Festival. He attended three intensive three-week courses dedicated to cello and the Feldenkrais Method, as well as a weekend seminar focused on the Baroque cellist Dall’Abaco. He also had the opportunity to participate in the inaugural ToneBase Cello Festival in Boston, where he attended classes and performed in masterclasses led by prominent cello educators from around the world. This summer, in addition to participating in Cellisimo, Alexander will be a guest artist at the Dutch Fruit Festival and will participate in Equity Arc’s VIA Academy in Miami, Florida.
In 2023, Alexander placed second in the Radda International Competition and won first place in the International Music Academy Competition in Italy in 2024. In 2025, he was awarded second place in the Opus Competition, and this year, he won the Central New Jersey Youth Orchestra Concert Competition and the Summit Symphony Young Artists Concert Competition. Alexander also placed third in the U.S. Marine Band National Concert Competition. In addition, he was featured on NPR's "From the Top" and interviewed by Central New Jersey's Classical 89.1 FM.
For the past three years, Alexander has organized and performed fundraising recitals for various causes, including the California Wildfire Direct Giving Fund, the construction of a new performing arts center in Lake City, South Carolina, and a scholarship fund for the Blue Mountain Festival music summer camp. He recently received the Lucy Ducko Scholarship, which recognizes young students preparing for college who have demonstrated a commitment to community service.
Alexander is also a member of Music of the Heart, a student-run organization in New Jersey that organizes regular performances in hospitals and senior care facilities. In the fall of 2026, Alexander will study with Philippe Muller at the Manhattan School of Music, where he received the Project 440 scholarship, which covers his full tuition.
When he's not playing the cello, Alexander enjoys hiking in nature and playing chess in his free time. For Alexander, music is a precious gift, and he is grateful to his parents, grandparents, family, and all his teachers—past and present—who have shared his musical journey.
Isa Esparza, 19, Mexico
Isa Shelldai Esparza López is a young cellist originally from Monterrey, Nuevo León. She began her musical studies at the age of three with the Suzuki method in piano under the guidance of teacher Caroline Fraser, being part of the first Suzuki generation in Mexico. At eight years old, she began her cello studies under Marieta Ivanova, with whom she continues to refine her technique. She has taken masterclasses with renowned performers such as Marie Ythier, Álvaro Bitrán, John Henry Crawford, Valerie Aimard, Aimd Peled, William Molina, Christine Lamprea, Michal Shein, Angel Hernández, Rolando and Ernesto Fernandez, Giovanni Gnocchi, among others.
She has participated in internationally recognized courses and festivals such as the Mexican Children's Symphony Orchestra, the León International Cello Festival, the Guadalajara International Music Festival, the Cellisimo Intensive Cello Festival, and the Azteca Symphony Orchestra, among others.
In 2021, she won first place in the ESMDM National Cello Competition in the second category, as well as the award for best performance of Mexican music.
She is currently continuing her studies at the ESMDM with the goal of further developing as an artist and sharing a profound message of peace and love through her music, connecting with more people through the cello.
"Ebenezer"
"Ebenezer"
She has participated in internationally recognized courses and festivals such as the Mexican Children's Symphony Orchestra, the León International Cello Festival, the Guadalajara International Music Festival, the Cellisimo Intensive Cello Festival, and the Azteca Symphony Orchestra, among others.
In 2021, she won first place in the ESMDM National Cello Competition in the second category, as well as the award for best performance of Mexican music.
She is currently continuing her studies at the ESMDM with the goal of further developing as an artist and sharing a profound message of peace and love through her music, connecting with more people through the cello.
"Ebenezer"
"Ebenezer"
Uriel Dorian Velasco Palomino, 15, Mexico
Uriel Dorian Yamil Velasco Palomino began studying the cello at age 11 under the tutelage of teachers Omar Barrientos and Jesus Carrillo Maravilla. He later continued his studies with Jean Carlos Coronado Cabrices, his current teacher.
He has won several national competitions, including the 6th León Tremolo Competition in 2022, the Oaxaca Children's Soloists Gala, the Oaxaca Camerata Competition in 2025, the La Superior National Cello Competition, and the León School of Music Music Competition in 2026.
Dorian has participated in various festivals such as Cello Week, the Querétaro Bach Festival, the Guadalajara International Music Festival, the Intensive Technical Cello Refinement Course, CelloFest UP at the Pan-American University of Mexico, the León International Cello Festival, and the Nahuixictatli Festival. In the summer of 2026, she will attend the Reina Sofía School of Music Summer Camp on the Albéniz Scholarship. She also participated in the 2023 Simanof Tour, conducted by Susan Siman, with the Mexican Youth Symphony Orchestra (OSIM).
She had the opportunity to make her orchestral debut with the Camerata Oaxaca in 2025, performing Saint-Saëns' Piano Concerto No. 1. She has been a member of the Junior Orchestra and the Trinitate Philharmonia Orchestra of the Academia Renacimiento, the Centro Fox Orchestra, and the Young Leaders Orchestra of the Sistema Bajío. In July 2025, she won the Oaxaca State Program for the Promotion of Artistic Creation and Development (PECDA) in the New Talented Adolescent Creators category with her Mazatec Cello Project.
She has taken master classes with teachers such as: Ericka Torres, Magdalena Morales, Anayeli Tapia, Isaac Loreto, Ricardo Loreto, Julio Reynoso, Lioudmila Beglarian, Salomón Guerrero, John Henry Crawford, Mon Puo Lee, Gabriel Schwabe, Yumi Kendall, Michal Shein, Luis Herrera, Roni Gordillo, Ildelfonso Cedillo, Luis Capilla, and Cristina Ponce.
He has won several national competitions, including the 6th León Tremolo Competition in 2022, the Oaxaca Children's Soloists Gala, the Oaxaca Camerata Competition in 2025, the La Superior National Cello Competition, and the León School of Music Music Competition in 2026.
Dorian has participated in various festivals such as Cello Week, the Querétaro Bach Festival, the Guadalajara International Music Festival, the Intensive Technical Cello Refinement Course, CelloFest UP at the Pan-American University of Mexico, the León International Cello Festival, and the Nahuixictatli Festival. In the summer of 2026, she will attend the Reina Sofía School of Music Summer Camp on the Albéniz Scholarship. She also participated in the 2023 Simanof Tour, conducted by Susan Siman, with the Mexican Youth Symphony Orchestra (OSIM).
She had the opportunity to make her orchestral debut with the Camerata Oaxaca in 2025, performing Saint-Saëns' Piano Concerto No. 1. She has been a member of the Junior Orchestra and the Trinitate Philharmonia Orchestra of the Academia Renacimiento, the Centro Fox Orchestra, and the Young Leaders Orchestra of the Sistema Bajío. In July 2025, she won the Oaxaca State Program for the Promotion of Artistic Creation and Development (PECDA) in the New Talented Adolescent Creators category with her Mazatec Cello Project.
She has taken master classes with teachers such as: Ericka Torres, Magdalena Morales, Anayeli Tapia, Isaac Loreto, Ricardo Loreto, Julio Reynoso, Lioudmila Beglarian, Salomón Guerrero, John Henry Crawford, Mon Puo Lee, Gabriel Schwabe, Yumi Kendall, Michal Shein, Luis Herrera, Roni Gordillo, Ildelfonso Cedillo, Luis Capilla, and Cristina Ponce.
Amanda Farina, 19, USA/Venezuela
Amanda Farina was born in January 2008. She began her musical studies at age 6 at the Los Teques branch of El Sistema in Venezuela, where she received music theory instruction, played the recorder, and participated in choral studies. At age 8, she began studying cello.
Later, she moved to the San Antonio de Los Altos branch, where she was a member of the Los Altos Mirandinos Regional Youth Orchestra and, eventually, the Metropolitan Orchestra of Western Caracas. She was also a member of the cello ensemble "Grandes Genios del Violoncello" (Great Geniuses of the Cello).
She continued her studies in Florida, USA, with Maestro Germán Marcano. She has performed with the Florida Youth Orchestra, the All County Broward Silver Orchestra, the All County Broward Gold Orchestra, and the All State Florida Orchestra.
She has also participated in festivals such as Florida Atlantic University Side-by-Side, Cellisimo, CelloLab, and New World Symphony Side-by-Side. She attended the New England Music Camp, where she received full merit scholarships two years in a row.
She has participated in masterclasses with renowned musicians such as Luca Franzetti, Natasha Brofsky, Germán Marcano, Michal Shein, Jullian Schwartz, Alisa Weilerstein, Ángel Hernández, and Temenuzhka Ostreva.
Amanda will continue her musical studies at the university level, beginning this fall of 2026 at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, under the guidance of Professor Cornelia Brubeck.
Later, she moved to the San Antonio de Los Altos branch, where she was a member of the Los Altos Mirandinos Regional Youth Orchestra and, eventually, the Metropolitan Orchestra of Western Caracas. She was also a member of the cello ensemble "Grandes Genios del Violoncello" (Great Geniuses of the Cello).
She continued her studies in Florida, USA, with Maestro Germán Marcano. She has performed with the Florida Youth Orchestra, the All County Broward Silver Orchestra, the All County Broward Gold Orchestra, and the All State Florida Orchestra.
She has also participated in festivals such as Florida Atlantic University Side-by-Side, Cellisimo, CelloLab, and New World Symphony Side-by-Side. She attended the New England Music Camp, where she received full merit scholarships two years in a row.
She has participated in masterclasses with renowned musicians such as Luca Franzetti, Natasha Brofsky, Germán Marcano, Michal Shein, Jullian Schwartz, Alisa Weilerstein, Ángel Hernández, and Temenuzhka Ostreva.
Amanda will continue her musical studies at the university level, beginning this fall of 2026 at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, under the guidance of Professor Cornelia Brubeck.
Anthony Reyes, 23, Venezuela
Anthony Paul Reyes Parababire was born on July 20, 2002, in Barcelona, Anzoátegui, Venezuela. He began his musical studies in the Venezuelan System of Youth and Children's Orchestras and Choirs, specifically in the state of Yaracuy in 2006, starting with rhythm band under the tutelage of Professors Eliezer Encinosa, Ilse Bracho, and others. He later moved to the CEAC (Center for Artistic and Cultural Studies) where he began studying the cello with Professor Winnie Reyes. During this period, he acquired his initial musical knowledge of cello performance. Over the years, he has been a member of the Pre-Infant, Infant, and Youth Orchestras of the Yaracuy State Orchestra System, receiving instruction from distinguished and important teachers such as Radnier Vargas, María Cecilia Giménez, Manuel Ustariz, Luis Carlos Parra, and others.
He has also participated in masterclasses with renowned teachers such as Gabriel Ureña, Daniel Arias, Francy Vázquez, Germán Marcano, Thulio Rondón, Tarsy Mata, Orlando López, Luis Carlos Parra, and Roberto Zambrano, acquiring important knowledge that has aided his musical development and brought him satisfaction with his achievements.
In 2019, he joined the cello department of the San Felipe Regional Academic Center in Yaracuy State as a FIAM (Integral Academic Musical Instructor), where he has the opportunity to share his knowledge with new generations of children and young people. It is important to note that he also combines singing with musical performance, belonging to the Latin Caribbean Orchestra of the San Felipe Regional Academic Center as a singer.
Currently a member of the cello section of the Francisco de Miranda Symphony Orchestra, he has also participated as a guest with the Lara State Symphony Orchestra and the Chacao Youth Symphony Orchestra. He participated in the 2023 Caracas String Academy Summer Course, the Comprehensive Cycle, and the Intensive Cello Course with Maestro Francy Vázquez. He participated in the Cellisimo Festival in 2024 and 2025, where he worked with Michal Shein, Temenuzhka Ostreva, Ángel Hernández, Edgar Calderón, and Álvaro Bitrán. In early 2025, he participated in the 10th edition of the Ilumina 2025 Festival in Brazil, and also in the 2025 International Festival of Youth Orchestras of the World in Russia with the Francisco de Miranda Symphony Orchestra.
He has also participated in masterclasses with renowned teachers such as Gabriel Ureña, Daniel Arias, Francy Vázquez, Germán Marcano, Thulio Rondón, Tarsy Mata, Orlando López, Luis Carlos Parra, and Roberto Zambrano, acquiring important knowledge that has aided his musical development and brought him satisfaction with his achievements.
In 2019, he joined the cello department of the San Felipe Regional Academic Center in Yaracuy State as a FIAM (Integral Academic Musical Instructor), where he has the opportunity to share his knowledge with new generations of children and young people. It is important to note that he also combines singing with musical performance, belonging to the Latin Caribbean Orchestra of the San Felipe Regional Academic Center as a singer.
Currently a member of the cello section of the Francisco de Miranda Symphony Orchestra, he has also participated as a guest with the Lara State Symphony Orchestra and the Chacao Youth Symphony Orchestra. He participated in the 2023 Caracas String Academy Summer Course, the Comprehensive Cycle, and the Intensive Cello Course with Maestro Francy Vázquez. He participated in the Cellisimo Festival in 2024 and 2025, where he worked with Michal Shein, Temenuzhka Ostreva, Ángel Hernández, Edgar Calderón, and Álvaro Bitrán. In early 2025, he participated in the 10th edition of the Ilumina 2025 Festival in Brazil, and also in the 2025 International Festival of Youth Orchestras of the World in Russia with the Francisco de Miranda Symphony Orchestra.
Liliana Tellez, 22, Mexico
She began her academic journey with the Red Cerro Colorado Orchestra as part of the Redes 2025 program in 2012 at the age of 8, at the Centro de Artes Musicales in Tijuana, Baja California.
In 2013, through the Baja California Artistic Talents scholarship, she received private lessons from Elena Befani until the end of 2021. During this period, she continued performing with the Red Cerro Colorado Orchestra, as well as the Fermata String Orchestra under the direction of Elena Befani, the Ticuan Artistic Talents Youth Orchestra, and the Cellofornia cello ensemble, directed by Yevgeniya Kobylyanska.
Her affiliation with Baja California Artistic Talents spanned from 2013 until early 2022, the year in which she ceased her participation with the Red Cerro Colorado Orchestra. Later, she enrolled in the Bachelor of Music program at the Faculty of Arts, Ensenada campus, of the Autonomous University of Baja California, studying with Yevgeniya Kobylyanska and Saray Sánchez Sánchez.
She is currently a member of the Zapopan Youth Symphony Orchestra and is studying with Ángel Hernández.
She has participated in the second edition of the International Chamber Music Encounter, the Monterrey National Cello Competition, the fourth, fifth, and sixth editions of the Guadalajara International Music Festival, and the State Instrumental Performance Competition in Mexicali, Baja California. She has taken masterclasses with Amit Peled, Inbal Segev, Ángel Miguel Hernández, Ileana Rivera, Giovanni Gnocchi, Zvi Plesser, Michal Shein, and William Molina.
In 2013, through the Baja California Artistic Talents scholarship, she received private lessons from Elena Befani until the end of 2021. During this period, she continued performing with the Red Cerro Colorado Orchestra, as well as the Fermata String Orchestra under the direction of Elena Befani, the Ticuan Artistic Talents Youth Orchestra, and the Cellofornia cello ensemble, directed by Yevgeniya Kobylyanska.
Her affiliation with Baja California Artistic Talents spanned from 2013 until early 2022, the year in which she ceased her participation with the Red Cerro Colorado Orchestra. Later, she enrolled in the Bachelor of Music program at the Faculty of Arts, Ensenada campus, of the Autonomous University of Baja California, studying with Yevgeniya Kobylyanska and Saray Sánchez Sánchez.
She is currently a member of the Zapopan Youth Symphony Orchestra and is studying with Ángel Hernández.
She has participated in the second edition of the International Chamber Music Encounter, the Monterrey National Cello Competition, the fourth, fifth, and sixth editions of the Guadalajara International Music Festival, and the State Instrumental Performance Competition in Mexicali, Baja California. She has taken masterclasses with Amit Peled, Inbal Segev, Ángel Miguel Hernández, Ileana Rivera, Giovanni Gnocchi, Zvi Plesser, Michal Shein, and William Molina.
Miguel Ponce, 17, Venezuela
Miguel Ponce began his musical studies in Venezuela's National System of Youth and Children's Orchestras and Choirs, as part of the La Rinconada branch. He notably participated as a member of the Inocente Carreño Youth Symphony Orchestra during the 2022-2023 period. He also expanded his experience in independent ensembles by playing with the Lino Gallardo Chamber Orchestra.
Currently 17 years old, he is in his fifth year of cello studies at the Lino Gallardo Conservatory of Music in Caracas, under the tutelage of renowned teachers Omaira Naranjo and Luis Alejandro Sardá. He has furthered his technique by attending the 2023-2025 editions of the Aldo Parisot Duo Cello Course, taught by the same mentors.
She has participated in masterclasses in both cello and chamber music with renowned teachers such as Germán Marcano, Tulio Rondón, Katharina Paslawski, Daniel Arias, Emmanuel Acurero, Juan Manuel Trujillo, and Leandro Bandrés. In 2023, she also participated in the Caracas String Academy course, led by María Fernanda Montero and Adriana Virguez.
In April 2025, she made her recitalist debut with her first cello and piano concert alongside Jean Franco Palacios. In October of that same year, she made her solo debut performing the third movement of Saint-Saëns's Piano Concerto in A minor, accompanied by the Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Elisa Vegas, at the Metropolitan University Auditorium.
Currently, he dedicates himself exclusively to his studies at the conservatory and is an active member of the Aldo Parisot Ensemble, a chamber group directed by maestros Sardá and Naranjo that fuses classical music with Venezuelan roots, working closely with guitarist, composer, and arranger Bartolomé Díaz. Throughout his career, he has shared the stage with pianists and soloists such as Arnaldo Pizzolante and Ericka Kudry, performing in prestigious venues across the country, including the Tobías Lasser Hall at the Central University of Venezuela (UCV), the CAF Foundation Hall, the Municipal Theater of Caracas, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Mozarteum School of Music Auditorium, among others.
Miguel Ponce is focusing his current training on the firm goal of continuing his advanced cello studies in Germany and establishing a career as an international soloist.
Currently 17 years old, he is in his fifth year of cello studies at the Lino Gallardo Conservatory of Music in Caracas, under the tutelage of renowned teachers Omaira Naranjo and Luis Alejandro Sardá. He has furthered his technique by attending the 2023-2025 editions of the Aldo Parisot Duo Cello Course, taught by the same mentors.
She has participated in masterclasses in both cello and chamber music with renowned teachers such as Germán Marcano, Tulio Rondón, Katharina Paslawski, Daniel Arias, Emmanuel Acurero, Juan Manuel Trujillo, and Leandro Bandrés. In 2023, she also participated in the Caracas String Academy course, led by María Fernanda Montero and Adriana Virguez.
In April 2025, she made her recitalist debut with her first cello and piano concert alongside Jean Franco Palacios. In October of that same year, she made her solo debut performing the third movement of Saint-Saëns's Piano Concerto in A minor, accompanied by the Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Elisa Vegas, at the Metropolitan University Auditorium.
Currently, he dedicates himself exclusively to his studies at the conservatory and is an active member of the Aldo Parisot Ensemble, a chamber group directed by maestros Sardá and Naranjo that fuses classical music with Venezuelan roots, working closely with guitarist, composer, and arranger Bartolomé Díaz. Throughout his career, he has shared the stage with pianists and soloists such as Arnaldo Pizzolante and Ericka Kudry, performing in prestigious venues across the country, including the Tobías Lasser Hall at the Central University of Venezuela (UCV), the CAF Foundation Hall, the Municipal Theater of Caracas, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Mozarteum School of Music Auditorium, among others.
Miguel Ponce is focusing his current training on the firm goal of continuing his advanced cello studies in Germany and establishing a career as an international soloist.
Elizabeth Murueta, 19, Mexico
Elizabeth Daniela Arellano Murueta, a cellist originally from Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico, began her musical studies at the Children's Music Initiation Center in Xalapa in 2014. Later, in 2018, she entered the introductory program at the Faculty of Music of the Universidad Veracruzana, where she is currently in her second year of a Bachelor of Music degree.
She has participated in various artistic activities both in her hometown and in other states of Mexico. These include chamber music recitals, festivals dedicated to women's art, and performances in cello ensembles, participating in the III National Guitar Encounter, held at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City, and in the NUNTEMPA 2023 Festival. and in the Performers' Concerts of the Camerata 21 International Festival (FICA) 2025.
She has performed with the Symphony Orchestra of the Faculty of Music at the Universidad Veracruzana and participated in the 7th National Cello Competition “La Superior” in 2023. She has also been an active participant in various masterclasses offered at her faculty.
In 2024, she participated in the 32nd National Camp and Concert Tour of the Mexican Children's Symphony Orchestra (OSIM). In 2025, she participated in the Azteca Academy and the Azteca Symphony Orchestra Residency under the direction of Maestro Carlos Miguel Prieto.
Finally, she participated in the 2026 edition of the Guadalajara International Music Festival (FIMG).
She has participated in various artistic activities both in her hometown and in other states of Mexico. These include chamber music recitals, festivals dedicated to women's art, and performances in cello ensembles, participating in the III National Guitar Encounter, held at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City, and in the NUNTEMPA 2023 Festival. and in the Performers' Concerts of the Camerata 21 International Festival (FICA) 2025.
She has performed with the Symphony Orchestra of the Faculty of Music at the Universidad Veracruzana and participated in the 7th National Cello Competition “La Superior” in 2023. She has also been an active participant in various masterclasses offered at her faculty.
In 2024, she participated in the 32nd National Camp and Concert Tour of the Mexican Children's Symphony Orchestra (OSIM). In 2025, she participated in the Azteca Academy and the Azteca Symphony Orchestra Residency under the direction of Maestro Carlos Miguel Prieto.
Finally, she participated in the 2026 edition of the Guadalajara International Music Festival (FIMG).
Julia Osorio, 20, Venezuela/Spain
Julia Osorio was born in Mérida, Venezuela, in September 2006. She began her musical journey at the age of three in Venezuela's National System of Youth and Children's Orchestras and Choirs. At five, she began studying cello, and since nine, she has studied with Maestro Benjamín Marchán.
In 2019, she was selected to join the National Children's Orchestra of Venezuela. She participated in the Guinness World Record attempt for "The Largest Orchestra in the World" in November 2021. In 2022, she was a member of the Mérida Traditional Orchestra.
During her training in Venezuela's El Sistema, she has participated in orchestras at all levels. From 2021 to 2024, she served as an assistant in the Regional Orchestra, occasionally alternating as principal. With the Mérida Regional Youth Orchestra, the city's main orchestra, she performed as a soloist in Saint-Saëns' Cello Concerto No. 1 in 2023, conducted by Camilo Tellez (Colombia). She has been invited to play in the cello section with the Juan José Landaeta Orchestra of Caracas, conducted by guest conductor Gaétan Kuchta (France).
Julia studied for three years at the Simón Bolívar National Conservatory of Music, Mérida Extension. She has participated in masterclasses with cellists Luca Franzetti, Valmore Nieves, Omaira Naranjo, Horacio Contreras, German Marcano, Michal Shein, Kevin Guerra, and Daniel Arias. She participated in the Cellisimo 2022 virtual festival.
Since 2016, she has participated in the annual festival in honor of Saint Cecilia, patron saint of musicians, alongside folk musicians, in the community of "La Pedregosa," Mérida, Venezuela.
Since moving to Spain, Julia has been part of the 2025-26 season with the MSDA Madrid Symphony Orchestra, where she has performed in several concerts at the National Music Auditorium.
Julia hopes to continue her musical training at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid, where she recently auditioned.
In 2019, she was selected to join the National Children's Orchestra of Venezuela. She participated in the Guinness World Record attempt for "The Largest Orchestra in the World" in November 2021. In 2022, she was a member of the Mérida Traditional Orchestra.
During her training in Venezuela's El Sistema, she has participated in orchestras at all levels. From 2021 to 2024, she served as an assistant in the Regional Orchestra, occasionally alternating as principal. With the Mérida Regional Youth Orchestra, the city's main orchestra, she performed as a soloist in Saint-Saëns' Cello Concerto No. 1 in 2023, conducted by Camilo Tellez (Colombia). She has been invited to play in the cello section with the Juan José Landaeta Orchestra of Caracas, conducted by guest conductor Gaétan Kuchta (France).
Julia studied for three years at the Simón Bolívar National Conservatory of Music, Mérida Extension. She has participated in masterclasses with cellists Luca Franzetti, Valmore Nieves, Omaira Naranjo, Horacio Contreras, German Marcano, Michal Shein, Kevin Guerra, and Daniel Arias. She participated in the Cellisimo 2022 virtual festival.
Since 2016, she has participated in the annual festival in honor of Saint Cecilia, patron saint of musicians, alongside folk musicians, in the community of "La Pedregosa," Mérida, Venezuela.
Since moving to Spain, Julia has been part of the 2025-26 season with the MSDA Madrid Symphony Orchestra, where she has performed in several concerts at the National Music Auditorium.
Julia hopes to continue her musical training at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Madrid, where she recently auditioned.
Martha Matienzo, 20, Mexico
Martha Matienzo was born on October 5, 2005, in San Luis Potosí, but has lived her entire life in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
She began her musical studies at age three with piano and at age five entered the Monterrey Higher School of Music and Dance (ESMDM) in the music initiation program. At age seven, she began studying cello with Temenuzhka Ostreva, with whom she continues her training.
She is currently in her final year of a Bachelor of Music degree specializing in cello at ESMDM. She has participated in masterclasses with renowned musicians such as Álvaro Bitrán, Marie Ythier, María Martínez, Michal Shein, Ángel Hernández, José Luis Herrera, Giovanni Gnocchi, Amit Peled, and William Molina, among others.
She is a member of the ESMDM Symphony Orchestra and has performed in various chamber music ensembles. In 2022 and 2023, she had the opportunity to be part of the Mexican Children's Symphony Orchestra, participating in tours of the country's main theaters, including the Palace of Fine Arts, the Teatro de la Paz, the Teatro Degollado, and the Teatro del Bicentenario.
She has also performed at the Cellisimo Festival 2025, the International Chamber Music Encounter (EIMuC) 2025, the Guadalajara International Music Festival (FIMG) 2026, and the Azteca Symphony Orchestra 2026.
She began her musical studies at age three with piano and at age five entered the Monterrey Higher School of Music and Dance (ESMDM) in the music initiation program. At age seven, she began studying cello with Temenuzhka Ostreva, with whom she continues her training.
She is currently in her final year of a Bachelor of Music degree specializing in cello at ESMDM. She has participated in masterclasses with renowned musicians such as Álvaro Bitrán, Marie Ythier, María Martínez, Michal Shein, Ángel Hernández, José Luis Herrera, Giovanni Gnocchi, Amit Peled, and William Molina, among others.
She is a member of the ESMDM Symphony Orchestra and has performed in various chamber music ensembles. In 2022 and 2023, she had the opportunity to be part of the Mexican Children's Symphony Orchestra, participating in tours of the country's main theaters, including the Palace of Fine Arts, the Teatro de la Paz, the Teatro Degollado, and the Teatro del Bicentenario.
She has also performed at the Cellisimo Festival 2025, the International Chamber Music Encounter (EIMuC) 2025, the Guadalajara International Music Festival (FIMG) 2026, and the Azteca Symphony Orchestra 2026.
Ximena Contreras, 22, Mexico
Ximena Fernanda Contreras Sánchez was born in Saltillo, Coahuila in 2003. She is a Mexican cellist passionate about culture, music, and sports.
Her musical training began at age seven when she learned to play the clarinet in the Saltillo Eres Tú Children's and Youth Band, participating for seven years and performing on international stages such as the Bob Car Auditorium and Orlando City Hall in Florida.
In 2017, she joined the Esperanza Azteca Saltillo Symphony Orchestra, where she immersed herself in classical music and began her cello studies. Subsequently, in 2020, she began her Bachelor's degree in Cello Performance at the Higher School of Music of the Autonomous University of Coahuila, under the guidance of distinguished teachers such as Natanael Espinoza, director of the Coahuila Desert Philharmonic Orchestra, Maylin Sevila Brizuelas, and her current teacher, Felipe Anton Rivera, the latter two being members of the same orchestra.
She has been a member of ensembles such as the Cuatro Lunas Women's Camerata and the Zapalinamé Women's Quartet, participating in national and international festivals, including the Beethoven Yesterday and Today Festival in Morelia.
In 2024, she was accepted into the Saltillo Metropolitan Orchestra under the direction of Natalia Riazanova, where she has gained experience in chamber music and has performed as a soloist. She also collaborates as a substitute with the Desert Philharmonic Orchestra and, in 2016, was selected for the first edition of the National Youth Symphony Orchestra of Mexico, with which she has participated in national tours at prestigious venues such as the Degollado Theater, the National Center for the Arts, the El Cantoral Auditorium, the Peace Theater, the Hidalgo Theater, the Gota de Plata Auditorium, the Isauro Martínez Theater, the Ricardo Castro Theater, and the Bicentennial Auditorium.
Currently, Ximena Fernanda Contreras Sánchez teaches cello at the Vivir Institute.
Ximena Fernanda Contreras Sánchez's career reflects discipline, passion, and commitment to music and culture. Her academic training and experience in national and international orchestras solidify her position as a young performer with great potential in the musical field. At the same time, her participation in university sports demonstrates her versatility and dedication, making her an example of well-rounded talent who seeks to inspire new generations.
Her musical training began at age seven when she learned to play the clarinet in the Saltillo Eres Tú Children's and Youth Band, participating for seven years and performing on international stages such as the Bob Car Auditorium and Orlando City Hall in Florida.
In 2017, she joined the Esperanza Azteca Saltillo Symphony Orchestra, where she immersed herself in classical music and began her cello studies. Subsequently, in 2020, she began her Bachelor's degree in Cello Performance at the Higher School of Music of the Autonomous University of Coahuila, under the guidance of distinguished teachers such as Natanael Espinoza, director of the Coahuila Desert Philharmonic Orchestra, Maylin Sevila Brizuelas, and her current teacher, Felipe Anton Rivera, the latter two being members of the same orchestra.
She has been a member of ensembles such as the Cuatro Lunas Women's Camerata and the Zapalinamé Women's Quartet, participating in national and international festivals, including the Beethoven Yesterday and Today Festival in Morelia.
In 2024, she was accepted into the Saltillo Metropolitan Orchestra under the direction of Natalia Riazanova, where she has gained experience in chamber music and has performed as a soloist. She also collaborates as a substitute with the Desert Philharmonic Orchestra and, in 2016, was selected for the first edition of the National Youth Symphony Orchestra of Mexico, with which she has participated in national tours at prestigious venues such as the Degollado Theater, the National Center for the Arts, the El Cantoral Auditorium, the Peace Theater, the Hidalgo Theater, the Gota de Plata Auditorium, the Isauro Martínez Theater, the Ricardo Castro Theater, and the Bicentennial Auditorium.
Currently, Ximena Fernanda Contreras Sánchez teaches cello at the Vivir Institute.
Ximena Fernanda Contreras Sánchez's career reflects discipline, passion, and commitment to music and culture. Her academic training and experience in national and international orchestras solidify her position as a young performer with great potential in the musical field. At the same time, her participation in university sports demonstrates her versatility and dedication, making her an example of well-rounded talent who seeks to inspire new generations.
Festival asistants 2026
Angel Bustillos, 22, Mexico (Cellisimo 2022, 2023)
A young musician originally from Chihuahua, Chihuahua, he began playing the cello at age 12 in the "Esperanza Azteca" project with Maestro Sergio Carmona. He currently resides in Monterrey and is under the tutelage of Maestro Temenuzhka Ostreva at the Monterrey Higher School of Music and Dance, where he is in his sixth year of the Bachelor of Music Performance program in Cello and is also studying for a Bachelor of Music in Music Production and Technology (LTM) degree at the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM). He won first place in the 2023 and 2021 National Cello Competition in the 16-19 and 20-25 age categories. Winner of the Best Performance of a Mexican Piece Award at said competition in 2021. Principal Cellist of “La Súper” Philharmonic Orchestra of the Superior School of Music and Dance of Monterrey and of the Symphony Orchestra of the Monterrey Institute of Technology. He has been a member of the Orchestra of the Americas 2024 in a Residency in Michigan where he played as Principal Cellist in concert with Yo-Yo Ma and Kayhan Kalhor, Azteca Symphony Orchestra 2022, the Children's Symphony Orchestra of Mexico on three occasions (from 2018 to 2020), the Mexico-USA Youth Philharmonic Orchestra “The Bridge”, the Esperanza Azteca Symphony Orchestra “Francisco Villa”, the “Sul-Ponticello” Cello Octet; She has been principal cellist in two Ballet de Monterrey productions: Swan Lake (2022) and the recording and premiere of the Mexican ballet Maximilian and Carlota (2023). She has also participated as a guest with the Chihuahua State Philharmonic Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra of the Autonomous University of Chihuahua, the Symphony Orchestra of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León, and the Camerata Arewá.
Participant in the León International Cello Festival (2021, 2022 and 2023) as an outstanding student and scholarship recipient, International Cello Festival in Mexico “CFest” (2018 and 2019), Cellisimo Virtual Festival (2022 and 2023), CelloBello Audition Preparation Workshop (2022), International Lake Festival: Academy of Music (2021), Guadalajara International Music Festival (2022) where he received the Excellence Scholarship, Chihuahua International Festival and New Chihuahua Art Festival (both in 2017); festivals where he has received various scholarships and where he has had the opportunity to take masterclasses with internationally renowned cellists such as Steven Isserlis, Santiago Cañón Valencia, Marc Coppey, Valérie Aimard, Julie Albers, Amit Even-Tov, Jesús Castro-Balbi, Christine Lamprea, John-Henry Crawford, Leonhard Roczek, Kate Dillingham, Michal Shein, Eduardo Palao, Francisco Vila, Guido Schiefen, Yeesun Kim, Guillermo Turina, Noémie Raymond-Friset, Marcio Carneiro, Marie Ythier, Alvaro Bitran, William Molina, Ildefonso Cedillo, and Diego Carneiro, among others.
At Tecnológico de Monterrey, he has participated in important productions with the Symphony Orchestra, as well as in Musical Theater and Ensemble Concerts, earning him nominations in all three categories at the Maldonado Gala. He won the Best Male Lead award in 2023 and the Revelation in Musical Theater Music award in 2022.
Ángel Bustillos, National Cello Competition La Superior 2023
He has been part of the organizing committee of the León International Cello Festival in Guanajuato since last year, working in the areas of Outreach and Promotion, as well as Social Media for the festival.
Participant in the León International Cello Festival (2021, 2022 and 2023) as an outstanding student and scholarship recipient, International Cello Festival in Mexico “CFest” (2018 and 2019), Cellisimo Virtual Festival (2022 and 2023), CelloBello Audition Preparation Workshop (2022), International Lake Festival: Academy of Music (2021), Guadalajara International Music Festival (2022) where he received the Excellence Scholarship, Chihuahua International Festival and New Chihuahua Art Festival (both in 2017); festivals where he has received various scholarships and where he has had the opportunity to take masterclasses with internationally renowned cellists such as Steven Isserlis, Santiago Cañón Valencia, Marc Coppey, Valérie Aimard, Julie Albers, Amit Even-Tov, Jesús Castro-Balbi, Christine Lamprea, John-Henry Crawford, Leonhard Roczek, Kate Dillingham, Michal Shein, Eduardo Palao, Francisco Vila, Guido Schiefen, Yeesun Kim, Guillermo Turina, Noémie Raymond-Friset, Marcio Carneiro, Marie Ythier, Alvaro Bitran, William Molina, Ildefonso Cedillo, and Diego Carneiro, among others.
At Tecnológico de Monterrey, he has participated in important productions with the Symphony Orchestra, as well as in Musical Theater and Ensemble Concerts, earning him nominations in all three categories at the Maldonado Gala. He won the Best Male Lead award in 2023 and the Revelation in Musical Theater Music award in 2022.
Ángel Bustillos, National Cello Competition La Superior 2023
He has been part of the organizing committee of the León International Cello Festival in Guanajuato since last year, working in the areas of Outreach and Promotion, as well as Social Media for the festival.
Stephanny Mata, 27, Venezuela (Cellisimo 2022)
Stephanny Mata is a Venezuelan cellist and a member of El Sistema, Venezuela's national youth orchestra system, since the age of four. There, she has received continuous musical training from the beginner level to the professional level. She was a member of the Evencio Castellanos Regional Youth Orchestra, with which she made her solo debut in 2015 at the Simón Bolívar Hall of the Center for Social Action through Music, performing Saint-Saëns' Cello Concerto.
From 2017 until early 2025, she was a member of the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra, where she had extensive musical experience alongside pioneers of Venezuelan music. In 2018, she was selected as Assistant to the Principal Cellist.
She participated as a scholarship recipient in the Cellísimo Festival (2022). She participated in the Cello Bello Audition Preparation Workshop in 2022 and 2023, receiving masterclasses and individual lessons from professors Amir Eldan, Brandon Vamos, Julie Albers, and Daniel McDonough.
She is currently a member of the Simón Bolívar Chamber Orchestra, a pioneering orchestra of El Sistema, with whom she has already completed her first tour, performing at the Algerian Opera House. She is a cello student of Professor César Giuliani, a member of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra.
She graduated from the Simón Bolívar Conservatory in 2023 and is currently in her final year of a Bachelor of Music degree at UNEARTE.
He has received masterclasses and individual instruction from teachers such as: Germán Marcano, Michal Shein, Francisco Vila, Francy Vazquez, Juan José Romero, Aristides Rivas, Kevin Guerra, Jamal Aliyev, and Luca Franzeti.
From 2017 until early 2025, she was a member of the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra, where she had extensive musical experience alongside pioneers of Venezuelan music. In 2018, she was selected as Assistant to the Principal Cellist.
She participated as a scholarship recipient in the Cellísimo Festival (2022). She participated in the Cello Bello Audition Preparation Workshop in 2022 and 2023, receiving masterclasses and individual lessons from professors Amir Eldan, Brandon Vamos, Julie Albers, and Daniel McDonough.
She is currently a member of the Simón Bolívar Chamber Orchestra, a pioneering orchestra of El Sistema, with whom she has already completed her first tour, performing at the Algerian Opera House. She is a cello student of Professor César Giuliani, a member of the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra.
She graduated from the Simón Bolívar Conservatory in 2023 and is currently in her final year of a Bachelor of Music degree at UNEARTE.
He has received masterclasses and individual instruction from teachers such as: Germán Marcano, Michal Shein, Francisco Vila, Francy Vazquez, Juan José Romero, Aristides Rivas, Kevin Guerra, Jamal Aliyev, and Luca Franzeti.
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