WILLIAM DE ROSA
(cello)

"William De Rosa is one of the most brilliant talents in the world," proclaimed the late Leonard Rose, who is considered the dean of American cellists. Since winning first prize in the Gregor Piatigorsky Competition at the age of 15, William De Rosa has established himself as one of the leading cellists of his generation.

His performances with symphony orchestras and in recital have taken him to the major music centers of the United States, including the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., the Music Center in Los Angeles, Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Jordan Hall in Boston, Jones Hall in Houston, Davies Hall in San Francisco, and Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York.

An avid chamber musician, Mr. De Rosa was invited by Isaac Stern to collaborate with him at a sold out Carnegie Hall concert honoring Mr. Stern's 60th birthday. His chamber music activities include appearances with the Emerson and Cleveland Quartets as well as the Music Festivals in Aspen, Marlboro, Seattle, and at the Music Festivals at Sea in Europe.

Born into a family of Italian-American descent, Mr. De Rosa hails from a long time of prominent musicians, with roots that stretch back to Milan, Italy, where his relatives were founding members of the Milan Music Conservatory.

William began his musical studies at the University of Southern California, where he studied with Eleanor Schoenfeld, and where, at the age of 12, Piatigorsky invited him to be a performing member of the famed Piatigorsky class. Mr. De Rosa continued his studies with Mr. Rose and Lynn Harrell at the Juilliard School in New York City. He performs on a rare and pristine cello crafted by Domenicus Montagnana in 1739.