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Gerardo Sanchez Pastrana

Cello


Colombian cellist Gerardo Sanchez Pastrana is recognized by his versatility as an artist and performer. He has won several competitions and prizes as a soloist and chamber musician in Colombia, Argentina, and the U.S., which includes the Jovenes Interpretes of the Banco de la Republica of Colombia, the Universidad Nacional de Colombia Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, and the second prize of Nicolas Finoli award. He has performed as a soloist in Colombia, Czech Republic, Argentina, and the U.S.

As an orchestra musician, he served as a cellist in several professional orchestras such as the Bogota Philharmonic Orchestra, Colombia National Symphony Orchestra, Muncie Symphony Orchestra, and Bogota Youth Philharmonic as Principal Cellist and Founding Member. He has worked with many world-renewed artists such as Mario Brunello, Vicente Amigo, Paul Meyer, Benjamin Schmidt, Daniel Muller-Schott. Claudio Bohorquez, Leticia Moreno, Andres Orozco-Estrada, Rossen Milanov, Guerasim Voronkov, Baldur Bronnimann, Laurent Campellone, Marco Boemi, Shlomo Mintz, among others.


As a teacher, he has been invited to teach master classes and workshops in Colombia and Costa Rica. He has been Graduate Teaching Assistant at Ball State University, Northern Illinois University, and West Virginia University. He has been a cello teacher at NIU Community School of Arts, Sycamore High School, and Interlochen Summer Camp. Additionally, he has participated several volunteering projects with the Colombian Youth Philharmonic in 2019 and 2020.

Gerardo holds a bachelor’s degree in Cello Performance from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, an Artist Diploma from Ball State University, and a Master of Music in Cello Performance from Northern Illinois University. His principal teachers have been Julio Gutierrez, Magdalena Eichmeyer, Diego Garcia, Peter Opie and Cheng-Hou Lee. Currently, Gerardo is pursuing his doctoral studies at West Virginia University under the guidance of Dr. Erin Ellis,  working as graduate teaching assistant, Principal Cello of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and member of the Montani String Quartet.