Cellist Cicely Parnas in Concert this Sunday

American cellist Cicely Parnas performs for Pacific Union College’s Fine Art Series on Sunday, January 24. Parnas is recognized for bringing “velvety sound, articulate passagework and keen imagination” to her performances (The New York Times). She has studied with cellists Peter Wiley and Ronald Feldman, and earned an Artist Diploma from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Ms. Parnas performs on a 1712 Giovanni Grancino cello.

Parnas, the granddaughter of renowned cellist Leslie Parnas, began playing at age four. Seven years later, she made her concert debut with the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra. In 2012, she was the first prize winner of the Young Concert Artists International Auditions.

Ms. Parnas has appeared at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, the Buffalo Chamber Music Society, Vanguard Concerts, the Jewish Community Alliance, and the Washington Center for the Performing Arts. She has performed with the Long Bay Symphony, the Longwood Symphony Orchestra, the Rochester Chamber Orchestra, and the Montreal Chamber Orchestra, where she gave the world premiere of Jim McGrath’s Concertino for Cello.

In 2012, Parnas made her Carnegie Hall concerto debut, performing the Saint-Saëns Concerto with the New York String Orchestra under the baton of Jaime Laredo. She has soloed in Saint-Saëns' Cello Concerto with the New York String Orchestra under Jaime Laredo, the Elgar Cello Concerto with the Vermont Symphony and the Saint-Saëns with L'Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire. Other international appearances include her participation in the 2013 Young Concert Artists Festivals in Tokyo and Beijing.

Parnas also performs in duo parnas with her sister, violinist Madalyn Parnas. They have released three albums on the Sheffield Lab label: Parnas Double (2008), Gare du Nord (2010), and duo parnas NOW (2014). NOW features 21st century works by Lera Auerbach, William Bolcom, Paul Moravec, and Charles Wuorinen, among others.

The concert begins at 4 p.m. at Pacific Union College’s Paulin Hall Auditorium, located at One Angwin Avenue. Admission is free; donations are gratefully accepted. Call 707-965-6303 or visit www.puc.edu/calendar for more information.