Event Information

A unique and versatile cello quintet, hailed as “brilliant” and “superb” by Mark Swed in the Los Angeles Times, the SAKURA Cello Quintet is built on the artistry and virtuosity of its members. Drawing from the rich heritage of a repertoire that spans eight centuries, inventive programs are constructed around conceptual threads, with a commitment to opening new vistas of beauty and expression by showcasing the great warmth and scope of five cellos. SAKURA explores great music of the past through dazzling arrangements that offer fresh perspectives on familiar notes, and continually expands the five-cello repertoire into the future by commissioning new works. Performance highlights have included the premiere of the world’s first concerto for five cellos and orchestra (Thomas Mellan’s “…on transcendence…”), a performance and pedagogical residency at New Orleans’ Birdfoot Festival, and concert appearances across the country.