Annamarie Wellems

cello

Cellist Annamarie Wellems is a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, where she has performed as Principal Cello under conductor Ken-David Masur. She has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Fringe Opera, and was Principal Cello of the Shepherd School Chamber Orchestra under Larry Rachleff.

Ms. Wellems was awarded fellowships at the Sarasota and Colorado College music festivals and at the Aspen Music Festival and School, where she sat Assistant Principal Cello of the Aspen Chamber Symphony. As a chamber musician, she has won Gold Medals at the M-Prize, St. Paul, and ENKOR competitions and a Silver Medal at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.

Ms. Wellems appeared on the PBS television show Now Hear This, performing Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring with members of the Cleveland Orchestra. She has collaborated with pianist Jon Kimura Parker and participated in masterclasses with artists including Clive Greensmith, Timothy Eddy, Laurence Lesser, and Menahem Pressler.

Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Ms. Wellems received her early training at the Music Institute of Chicago, where she studied with Tanya Carey and Hans Jørgen Jensen. She earned her Bachelor of Music at Rice University with Desmond Hoebig and will begin her master’s degree this fall at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Melissa Kraut. Beyond performing, Ms. Wellems is also a teacher and administrator. She maintains a private studio and was recently an artistic intern at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Spoleto Festival USA.

Sponsors: Catherine and Douglas Ellis