Michelle Djokic

Cello

Michelle Djokic is the Founding Artistic Director of the Concordia Chamber Players based in New Hope, PA., now in their 12th season. She is currently also the cellist for Quartet San Francisco. Residing in the San Francisco Bay area since 2004, Ms. Djokic served as Assistant principal cellist of the San Francisco Symphony from 2005-2007. In 2008 she won a position with the New Century Chamber Orchestra. In the fall of 2008 she recorded the Piazzola Four Seasons as principal cellist with music director and violinist Nadja Salerno Sonnenberg. She also recorded the Trio for Trumpet, Cello and Piano by Eric Ewazen for Albany Records with the composer at the piano and Chris Gekker on trumpet.

In 1985 Ms. Djokic made her Carnegie Hall debut as soloist with the New Jersey Symphony. She has appeared as soloist with orchestras throughout the United States, Canada and Europe to great critical acclaim. As a child she captured the Philadelphia Orchestra Young Artist Competition first prize giving her a debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the age of 13. Other prizes include the Prince Bernard Award for Excellence in the 1989 Scheveningen International Cello Competition, the coveted People's Prize in the 1980 Pablo Casals International Cello Competition in Budapest, Hungary, first prize in the Chicago Civic Orchestra Competition, as well as first prize in the young artists competitions of the New Jersey Symphony, the North Carolina Symphony, the Juilliard School Concerto Competition and the Aspen Festival Concerto Competition.

Her festival appearances include the Aspen Music Festival, Banff Music Festival, Newport Music Festival, Kingston Chamber Music Festival, Princeton Music Festival, Roycroft Chamber Music Festival, Bowdoin College Music Festival, Northern Country Chamber Players, and the Mozart Festival. Active as a solo and chamber musician, Ms. Djokic has been invited to perform with the Emanuel Ax, Menahem Pressler, and Lynn Harrel as well as the Boston Chamber Players, American Chamber Players and the Northern Country Chamber Players.

Orchestral positions have included principal cellist of the Denver Symphony, Jupiter Symphony, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, McGill Chamber Orchestra and the Rhode Island Philharmonic. A student of Leonard Rose and Channing Robbins, Ms. Djokic received both her Bachelor of Music degree and her Master of Music degree at the age of 20 from the Juilliard School of Music.