Biography

“Self-possessed and prepossessing, Parnas is musically poised beyond her 20 years. Her bow-arm is perfection itself, and with it she sculpts phrases of lapidary detail. She already understands that, on a stringed instrument, there is as much beauty to be found between the notes as during them. The clarity of articulation in passagework and the skill with which she shaped lyrical lines were startling. This was artistry that cannot be taught; the musician simply owns it.” - The Washington Post

Cicely Parnas is a Berlin-based American musician who has established an international reputation as a cellist, arranger, composer, and teacher. Born in 1993, Cicely showed a passion for music from an early age and quickly became known as a prodigious talent in the classical music world.

At eleven years old, Cicely made her concerto debut, setting the stage for a career that would see her perform in some of the world's most prestigious venues. Her artistry and technical mastery were recognized in 2012 when she won the Young Concert Artists International Auditions, a major competition that has launched the careers of many great musicians.

Some of the most notable performances of Cicely's career have taken place in iconic concert halls, including the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall. She has soloed with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, The New York String Orchestra Seminar, Charleston Symphony, and many more. Her lifelong collaboration with her sister and violinist, Madalyn Parnas-Möller, has brought Duo Parnas to venues in Shanghai, Tel Aviv, Washington, DC, New York, Los Angeles, Berlin, and many other cities.

One of Cicely's joys as a musician is to arrange. She has adapted an array of pieces for various ensembles, including a collection of Nine Arias for Cello and Piano in collaboration with Brooklyn Duo. Her arrangements have been praised for their craft and ingenuity, and have earned her a devoted following among fans of classical music.

As a composer, Cicely’s mission is to tell stories. Through her musical language that spans a wide emotional range, listeners are drawn in via narrative. Her music can be found in several pieces for solo cello, string quartet, and in two documentaries. This year, Cicely is writing a piece for the great cellist Jennifer Kloetzel as a part of her Mission: Bach project.

A personally meaningful aspect of her work is her ongoing Commission Project, which began in 2012. Among her commissioned composers are Arsentiy Kharitonov, Jocelyn Hagen, Gabriel Gutierrez, Peter John, and Chris Beroes-Haigis. In 2023, Cicely ran a successful crowd-funding campaign to record Spoken in Waves, a piece by Beroes-Haigis for cello and string quartet, and in 2026, an expansion of the project will culminate in a recorded album of his music.

As a teacher, Cicely is a dedicated educator, regularly sharing knowledge and ideas in videos on social media and has a small private studio. In response to the difficulty of access to information in a traditionally one-on-one learning model, she donates her time to offer free online lessons.

Despite her love of classical music, Cicely is not content to limit herself to one genre. She has a wide range of musical interests and has explored many different styles over the course of her career. She is a member of the cello rock band Break of Reality, and she is currently studying at the Berklee College of Music for Electronic Music Production and Music Business. She has a casual project of singing and songwriting under the artist name Sissilee, and has one song released on bUMA RecordZ. Above all, she is always seeking to expand her knowledge and explore new avenues for musical creativity.

In addition to her musical pursuits, Cicely is also known for her diverse range of hobbies. When she's not with her cello, she can be found reading, writing, sewing, baking, or rug-making.

Through her many interests, Cicely demonstrates a deep curiosity and a desire to explore new modes of creativity and self-expression. She is a true Renaissance woman with a wealth of talents and a passion for life that is contagious to all those around her.