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Gianna Abondolo, cellist, leads a dynamic career performing regularly as soloist, chamber musician, improviser, and composer. Top prizewinner of the1988 Young Musician’s Foundation Debut Competition, she gave her New York solo debut performance in 1991 at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she started playing the cello at age eight and subsequently began concertizing, including at the age of 15 a performance of Vivaldi’s double concerto with Yo-Yo Ma of which Terry McQuilkin of the LA. Times wrote, “clearly a musician of exceptional talent”. In 1991, upon receiving her Masters Degree from the Juilliard School, she won a position with the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Esa Pekka Salonen, with whom she played for four years. Ms. Abondolo is a sought after artist, having played in festivals such as Marlboro, Tanglewood, Steamboat Springs, Santa.Clara Univ. New Music Fest., Other Minds SF, the Santa Barbara Academy of the West, and in Italy at the Accademia Chigiana and the Festivale Positano. The L.A. Times has described her playing as “world class, exceptional, and exquisite”. In the Bay Area, she has played with the Adorno Ensemble, Quartet San Francisco, SF Contemporary Music Players, and as principal cellist of the New Century Chamber Orchestra, the SF Chamber Orchestra, and the Berkeley Akademie. Ms. Abondolo has appeared locally on the concert series’ of San José Chamber Orch., Old First Church, Hertz Hall, Mills College, Music at the Mission San José, SF Contemporary Players, Noe Valley Ministry and the Gold Coast Chamber Players. Among the noteworthy composers she has worked with include Joan Tower, John Adams, Esa Pekka Salonen, Lou Harrison, Gabriela Frank, Karen Tanaka, and Alex Shapiro. As a composer herself, Santa Barbara News Press writes, “a true delight” and George Spelvin of Jungle Internet Radio says, “artfully beautiful music, exquisitely crafted, and must be heard to be truly appreciated!”. Having studied as far a field as West Africa and Cuba, her compositional style blends ethnic influences with western classical tradition. Her compositions have been commissioned by dance companies such as The Perks at the Cunningham Space in N.Y. City and at Jacob's Pillow, Santa Barbara Dance Theater, and performed at Oakland Dance Festival, UCSB, Old First Concerts, Santa Clara Univ. New Music Festival, Cal State LA, and at Strings Showcase in Berkeley. Ms. Abondolo premiered her composition entitled En el Sueño de la Libertad for cello and orchestra in May 2010, with the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra. Of her recordings, her CD “De’ja` Vu”, was showcased on S.F. Bay Area radio stations, “Sing Out” KPFA and KALW. Gianna is a former lecturer of UC Berkeley and is on the faculty of Mills College in Oakland, California. She teaches privately at her home studio in Richmond, California.
