Ema Parra

Sofia Parra is 13 years old and is in 7th grade at North Bethesda Middle School, Maryland. She

started cello with Professor Tanya Anisimova in the summer of 2019. In August 2020 she joined

the Maryland Classical Youth Orchestras as a member of Future Stars (2020-2021), continued

to Chamber Strings (2021-2022), and currently is in Young Artists (2023-2024). She enjoys

playing her cello with the orchestra but enjoys solo playing even more. She has been awarded

1st Prize in the National Philharmonic Bach Competition 2021, Maryland, USA, the Muse

International Competition 2022, Greece, the Charleston International Baroque Music

Competition 2023, USA, and the Grand Prix in the Rising Talents Festival 2021-2022, New

York, USA. She has spent time in the Maryland Classical Youth Summer Institute for three

years (2021-2023), and the National Philharmonic Summer Strings Institute for two years,

having the role as the vice principal in 2022 and principal cellist in 2023.