Chicago based cellist Dessislava Nenova is a genre-bending musician whose musical journey takes her beyond the traditional career path of the classical concert stage. After garnering critical acclaim in her native Bulgaria, Dessislava moved to the United States where she quickly established a reputation for compelling performances outside of the traditional classical music canon. She is widely recognized for her uniquely personal voice on the cello, and a visceral style that can be traced back to the Russian school of string playing.
Highly sought after as both a solo cellist and a principal cellist, Dessislava has worked with the Chautauqua Festival Orchestra, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, International Chamber Soloists and numerous other ensembles in the United States and abroad. She is in high demand for commercial recording sessions and Broadway productions across the country, and as a recording artist can be found performing on numerous labels including the Chicago Recording Company and Blue Griffin Recording. Dessislava’s current and former students may be found in community and school-based ensembles through to prestigious orchestras such as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
Growing up surrounded by the music of Bulgaria, I was naturally drawn to the sound of the human voice and singing. I remember these songs from my childhood, and although the words are absent when I play the cello, the voices are felt through gestures in the sound shaped by the bow.