Phil Cartwright, Founder
In response to our Dancer of the Month posting and its success (thank you, Victoria Parker), we are launching Musician of the Month. From mid-month to mid-month, whether we know the musician personally or persons close to us call someone to our attention, we will do our best to introduce you to the very best musicians.
This month, we proudly introduce you to Sara Cortinas, Cellist.
Preferred Music: The composers I love most are Mozart and Schubert. Mozart for his operas and much more. Schubert for his song cycles, late piano sonatas and the two cello quintets. I love all the other composers as well, there is not a single composer I categorically dislike.
Most Memorable Moment as a Professional Musician: As a teacher, I find it very rewarding to help the student find joy in making music, as well as helping them reach their potential to express themselves musically. Chamber music with like-minded musicians aspiring to play their best, is always wonderful.
Describe Your Dream Performance: Any performance in which I am able to communicate with the audience. It could be playing chamber music or playing alone. Speaking to the audience and sharing great works of music with them makes performing very rewarding.
Born into a family of musicians, Sara Cortinas first studied the cello with Walter Grimmer at the Conservatory of Music in Zurich, Switzerland. At the age of seventeen, Sara began her studies at the Juilliard School with Harvey Shapiro and David Soyer, from where she holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. She also continued her studies at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with János Starker.
She has participated in numerous music festivals, including the Gregor Piatigorsky International Cello Festival at the University of Southern California, the Perlman Music Program in Shelter Island, New York, and the Encuentro de Música y Academia de Santander in Spain. She has also played for many renowned cellists such as Steven Isserlis, Lluís Claret and Michel Strauss.
Sara has won the Holland-America Music Society (Chicago) cello competition, the Carlos Prieto Competition for Violoncello (Mexico) and the Olga Koussevitzky Competition for Strings in New York. She has collaborated with musicians such as members of the Emerson String Quartet, Itzhak Perlman, Bruce Brubaker, and has performed at festivals and concerts in Germany, Switzerland and the United States. She has performed chamber music at Alice Tully Hall, Mendelssohn-Saal at the Gewandhaus Leipzig and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.
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