BIOGRAPHY

Born in 1993, cellist Cicely Parnas is one of the finest young artists performing today. A unique presence on the concert stage, she is recognized for her highly individualized sound, exquisite tone, and spontaneous creativity fueled by an affable fearlessness. Cicely’s cello studies began at age four, and she made her orchestral debut at nine. Since then Cicely has performed over thirty times as guest soloist with orchestras, including the New York String Orchestra conducted by master musician and conductor, Jaime Laredo, and David Alan Miller’s Albany Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Parnas has claimed her seventh 1st prize in soloist competitions winning the 2011 Cello Concerto Competition at the Jacobs School of Music.

This young titan of the cello proves herself not only on the solo stage but also in the chamber setting. An early start playing duets with her sister, violinist Madalyn Parnas, soon became duo parnas. The sister string duo has earned 1st prize in an international chamber music competition at Carnegie Hall, released two "must-have" CDs featuring 20th century duo literature, and inspired award-winning composers to write for them. Furthermore, this exceptional groundwork in chamber music laid the foundation for successful concertizing with the great artist Peter Serkin as the Parnas/Serkin Trio.

This season Cicely will perform as guest soloist with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic under the baton of Randall Fleisher and the Orchestra of the League of Composers in New York City. Chosen as an inaugural performer for the NPR Performance Today’s new series “Young Artists in Residence,” Cicely will be presented performing and interviewing with Fred Child on five radio broadcasts to be aired daily for one week later this year. In the spring Cicely will be performing two concerts featuring new music at Lincoln Center. Festival performances will include a debut at Honest Brook in Meredith NY, and a return engagement at Lachine Music Festival in Montreal. duo parnas’ third CD In Real Time, a disc of today’s works by living composers including Auerbach, Bolcom, Moravec, and Wuorinen, is due for release in May 2012.

Cicely is a full-tuition scholarship recipient in the prestigious Artist Diploma Program at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music studying with cellist Sharon Robinson. She is the granddaughter of world-class cellist Leslie Parnas, and a former student of cellist Peter Wiley. Ms. Parnas performs on a 1712 Giovanni Grancino violoncello.
Last updated: 10/2/2011

REVIEWS

"In this compact five-movement work, Hindemith probes the cello’s full range and technical resources, and provides a measure of emotional heft as well. Ms. Parnas played it with focused intensity, attention to Hindemith’s constantly changing textures and an appealing touch of wildness when the music was at its most heated."

-- Allan Kozinn, The New York Times

"...an astonishing mix of pungency and finesse."

-- Berkshire Record

"...possessed of prodigious technique and an Olympic gymnast's poise."

-- Daily Freeman

"This is a technically demanding piece that combines idiomatic lyricism and warmth in its slow passages and fiery passion in its perpetual-motion finale. Miss Parnas accomplished all of these feats with a sensitivity and technique far surpassing her young years."

-- Arizona Daily Sun

"...she played with an impressive drama and phrasing that sounded more mature than her years. Yet she backed these up with a palpable passion and flair for the romantic line."

-- Daily Gazette

"...the display of artistry on the part of the soloists was breath-taking."

-- Cooperstown Freeman's Journal

"...the young players have adventuresome tastes and a meaty sound. ...there's a haunting and sustained intensity to the Ravel Sonata and a classical elegance to the Handel Passacaglia. But the heart of the record is in the opening duos by Zoltan Kodaly and Alexander Tcherepnin. Both works have a gritty intensity that's leavened by the insightful and passionate performances."

-- Joseph Dalton, Times Union