BIOGRAPHY

Born in 1993, cellist Cicely Parnas is one of the finest young artists performing today, easily recognized for her uniquely sincere musical voice and highly individualized sound. Her exquisite tone and spontaneous creativity are fueled by a limitless generosity and fearlessness making for exciting performance. Cicely began studying the cello at age four, and made her orchestral debut at nine. Since then Cicely has performed over two dozen times as guest soloist with orchestra, including the New York String Orchestra conducted by master musician and conductor, Jaime Laredo, and David Alan Miller’s Albany Symphony. Three of Cicely’s concerto performances have been presented on WQXR’s "McGraw Hill Young Artist Showcase" in New York. Cicely has also claimed six 1st prizes in national and regional soloist competitions.

This young titan of the cello is not only riveting on the solo stage but proves herself an extraordinary chamber musician as well. An early start playing duets with her sister soon became an intense collaboration between Cicely and violinist Madalyn Parnas, and a rigorous study of countless chamber music scores followed. The result was a stunning display of flawless and amazing ensemble powered by a single genetic musical intuition. duo parnas has earned 1st prize in an international chamber music competition at Carnegie Hall, released two highly acclaimed "must-have" CDs featuring duo literature of the 20th century, and inspired award-winning composers to write for them. Premiering a duo work at Symphony Space, the New York Times reported, "The duo parnas gave the piece an electrifying reading, couching it in a lush tone and executing its complex interplay with pinpoint precision."

This exceptional groundwork in chamber music included formal study of piano trios beginning in 1999 and laid the foundation for meetings that began with the great artist Peter Serkin in the summer of 2007. Mr. Serkin, impressed with the duo’s “rich, thoughtful approach…” and the “purity of their playing”, began performing numerous concerts with them as the Parnas/Serkin Trio beginning in the 08/09 season. This very successful collaboration of a "master artist and new musical leaders learning and exploring great chamber music together" reveals the living legacy of Marlboro. Parnas/Serkin Trio performances this season included Bennington College, The New School, and Peoples' Symphony Concerts, with Brattleboro Music Center, and a return to Music Mountain Festival upcoming. A college sophomore majoring in Music and German, Cicely will begin her Artist Diploma Program at Indiana University in the Fall studying with Sharon Robinson. The granddaughter of world-class cellist Leslie Parnas, Miss Parnas is a student of cellist Peter Wiley and performs on a 1790 William Forster violoncello.

Last updated: 2/7/2010

REVIEWS

"The duo parnas [...] gave the piece an electrifying reading, couching it in a lush tone and executing its complex interplay with pinpoint precision."

-- 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

"It was truly a tour-de-force performance."

-- Times Herald Record

"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