Diliana Momtchilova, Cello

Diliana Momtchilova, violoncellist, performs as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States and Europe. Ms. Momtchilova has performed with the Bulgarian National Radio Symphony

Orchestra, Sofia Philharmonic, Sofia

Soloists Chamber Orchestra, the Juilliard Orchestra, Lehigh Valley Chamber

Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra of the State Academy of Music in Sofia, among many other ensembles. Among her numerous honors are the first prize of the Washington International Competition and winner of the Cello Concerto Competition at the Juilliard School.  She enjoys participation in numerous festivals, including the Emilia Romagna Festival (Italy), the Ameropa Chamber Music Festival (Czech Republic), the Festival of the Arts (Virginia), the Manchester Music Festival (Vermont), the Ljubljana Music Festival (Slovenia), and the Varna Summer International and Apolonia Music Festivals (Bulgaria).  She has recorded extensively in Europe and in New York, primarily with the labels Gega and Deutche Welle. Diliana was born in Sofia, Bulgaria into a family of musicians. She made her debut at the age of nine as a soloist with the Sofia Chamber Orchestra, and later attended the State Academy of Music in Sofia, where she graduated with honors, and the Juilliard School, where she gained her Master’s and Doctorate of Music, studying with Zara Nelsova and Harvey Shapiro. She has been a member of the Alaria, a piano-trio based ensemble in residence at Mannes College of Music, since 1998, and a faculty member at the Mannes College of Music, Extension Division since 2003.  She has been playing with the Washington

Sinfonietta as their principal cellist since Fall 2008.

www.Alaria.org