Ani Aznavoorian

Cellist Ani Aznavoorian has established a distinguished career as a soloist and chamber musician, performing with leading ensembles including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic, Helsinki Philharmonic, and the Boston Pops. This season marks her fifteenth year as Principal Cellist of Camerata Pacifica. A prolific recording artist for Cedille Records, Aznavoorian is a dedicated champion of new music. She has premiered major works by Ezra Laderman and Lera Auerbach, including Auerbach’s Dreammusik, which was commissioned specifically for her. Her international accolades include the Bunkamura Orchard Hall Award and top prizes at the International Paulo Competition and the American String Teachers Association. A former Presidential Scholar in the Arts, Aznavoorian made history at The Juilliard School as the youngest cellist to win the institution’s concerto competition. Her notable appearances span prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and the Kennedy Center. She earned both her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Juilliard under the tutelage of Aldo Parisot. Aznavoorian performs on a cello crafted by her father, Peter Aznavoorian.