Cynthia Mei - violinist

A California native, Cynthia Mei has appeared throughout the United States and abroad as both soloist and chamber musician. She is a founding member of the violin and piano duo, Chiaroscuro, which has recorded a CD by Deva Productions featuring sonatas by Corigliano and Beethoven.

"The duo is fabulous. Superb musicians with all the technique needed to do anything. I totally enjoyed listening to their work." - John Corigliano

"Mei is a strong violinist, with a bright tone and a brilliant bow arm. ...[She] handled the awkward violin part brilliantly, and gave the audience a first taste of her beautiful legato in the [Janacek] second movement ‘balada'." - San Francisco Classical Voice

In addition, Ms. Mei has worked with groups such as the Grammy Award nominated New Century Chamber Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony. Cynthia earned both her Bachelors and Masters of Music degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, where she studied as a scholarship student with Arianna Bronne. Her other awards include prize-winner of the Pepsi-Cola Young Artist's Award, and Concord Pavilion Scholarship Award. She has been coached by members of the American and Tokyo String Quartets, Tibor Varga, Victor Pikayzen, Alexander Schnieder, and Sylvia Rosenberg.

In 1997 she co-founded the Berkeley String Summer Seminar, a summer chamber music program for young musicians. She has also taught at various institutions such as the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the Crowden School in Berkeley, California.

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