Meet Our Musicians: Ismar Gomes, Cello

Award-winning cellist, Ismar Gomes, has performed internationally as a chamber musician, and soloist. Hailed for his “impressive virtuosity, energy, and a handsome tonal range” (Berkshire Review), he has established himself as a captivating young artist, delivering exciting and innovative performances.

Recent appearances have taken Dr. Gomes to four continents, including many recitals with his Duo partner, pianist Wan-Chi Su, with whom he has been touring for eight seasons. He has appeared at the Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival, Evolution Contemporary Music Series, Le Petit Salon, Early Music at St. Mark’s, and many more. His recent collaborators include members of the Pittsburgh and Baltimore Symphonies, and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, as well as members of the Johannes, and Brentano Quartets. Also in demand as an orchestral player, Mr. Gomes was the Baltimore Symphony’s Fellow for the 2015 – 2016, and is a member of both the Virginia and Richmond Symphonies.

Always engaged in performing and commissioning new works, he has given 50+ world premiere performances. Among these exciting adventures, in 2014 Mr. Gomes made the premiere recording of a chamber opera by Pulitzer Prize winner, David Lang performing with the Harlem Quartet and guest artists; the recording was a Grammy nomination finalist. Ismar and his Duo partner, Wan-Chi, have worked with several outstanding composers – including Aaron Malone, William H. Weigel, George Walker, Ying-Chen Kao and Aaron Jay Kernis – to produce and perform their works. In 2019, Ismar will give the premiere of a new concerto written for him, by James Lee III, in Philadelphia. Additionally, Ismar is a respected baroque cellist, a capacity in which he has performed for over a decade. In 2012 Mr. Gomes co-founded Arioso Furioso, a baroque ensemble based in New York and later in 2018, Ismar joined Mélomanie, an ensemble that pairs early and contemporary works on period instruments.

Teaching is a central component in Mr. Gomes’ musical life, he currently serves as Visiting Assistant Professor of Cello at Luther College in Iowa. He was formerly faculty and guest artist for StringFest at Merkin Hall, Performing Arts Institute at Wyoming Seminary, CIM Summer Chamber Music, and Young Artist at the Three Bridges International Music Festival – he is currently a Faculty Artist at the Rushmore Music Festival, the Baltimore International Piano Festival, and CelloSpeak. Dr. Gomes has recently been invited to present masterclasses at several universities including Georgetown, Towson, Ball State, and Duke.

Ismar attended the Peabody Conservatory, studying with Alison Wells and Amit Peled. Previous teachers include Marc Johnson and Clive Greensmith of the Vermeer and Tokyo Quartets. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from Stony Brook University, under the tutelage of Colin Carr. Mr. Gomes has appeared in Masterclasses for eminent cellists including Steven Doane, Janos Starker and Steven Isserlis, and was mentored in chamber music by the Vermeer, Jerusalem, Juilliard, and Emerson String Quartets.

Please visit www.ismargomes.com for up to date information about Mr. Gomes’ projects.