Alexis Pia Gerlach

Cellist Alexis Pia Gerlach has been lauded in the press for her "gripping emotion" and "powerful artistry,” qualities which have led to a career striking for its wide range of collaborations and artistic expressions as a solo artist and chamber musician, with performances across the U.S. and in 15 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America.

Among the conductors with whom she has appeared as soloist are Mstislav Rostropovich at the Evian Festival in France, James DePreist at Avery Fisher Hall, and Peter Oundjian at Caramoor with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s.

As the founding cellist of Trio Solisti, Gerlach performed for 19 years at major American venues and series, recorded extensively, and gave the premieres of many new works, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning Tempest Fantasy by Paul Moravec. In addition, Gerlach was a founding member of the sextet Concertante, with whom she toured for 15 years throughout the U.S., and recorded much of the string sextet repertoire.

A frequent collaborator with dancers, Gerlach collaborated as solo cellist with the Paul Taylor Dance Company on tour in India and at New York’s City Center, and in a duo with New York City Ballet principal dancer, Damian Woetzel. She has performed at many chamber music festivals including Marlboro, Aspen, Caramoor, Bridgehampton, and La Musica di Asolo, and as a guest artist with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. With Musicians From Marlboro, she has toured both in the U.S. and internationally.

Last season, Gerlach’s performances included the world premieres of Richard Danielpour’s Standing Witness with mezzo-soprano Susan Graham and Music From Copland House at the Kennedy Center and Tanglewood, and the world premiere of Forgotten Voices, a song cycle by 15 award-winning composers using text written by homeless shelter clients, with Music Kitchen at Carnegie Hall.

Gerlach studied cello with Nancy Streetman at the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Division, and Aldo Parisot at The Yale School of Music and The Juilliard School.