Alisa Weilerstein

Alisa Weilerstein is a globally acclaimed cellist, recognized with a 2011 MacArthur Fellowship. She performs solo recitals, chamber concerts, and concertos at leading international venues. Her current multi-season project, “FRAGMENTS,” reimagines the concert experience. This multisensory production by Elkhanah Pulitzer interweaves all 36 movements of Bach’s solo cello suites with 27 new commissions across six hour-long programs. In 2024–25, she premieres FRAGMENTS 3 in San Diego, presents New York premieres of FRAGMENTS 2 and 3 at Carnegie Hall, and performs the complete cycle at Spoleto Festival USA. Weilerstein champions both classical and contemporary repertoire, having premiered concertos by Pascal Dusapin, Matthias Pintscher, and Joan Tower. This season, she premieres new concertos by Thomas Larcher, Richard Blackford, and Gabriela Ortiz (with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic). Other highlights include engagements with the Berlin Philharmonic, Leipzig Gewandhaus, and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestras. Her discography includes chart-topping albums and a BBC Music’s “Recording of the Year” award. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at nine years old, Weilerstein is a staunch advocate for the T1D community.