1994- Cellist Cicely Parnas, 14 , began her musical studies at age four and was soon setting award records including a 1st prize win at age nine which earned her a performance with the Walden Chamber Players of Boston. Now after numerous concerti performances, Cicely has emerged as a seasoned performer and young artist. This year (2008) Miss Parnas will perform eight times with orchestra and close the season playing the Brahms Double with her sister, violinist Madalyn Parnas, recalling the historic and unparalleled performance of this piece by grandfather Leslie Parnas with Yehudi Menuhin and conducted by Casals. Miss Parnas has taken top prize in numerous competitions; in 2006 alone Cicely won three first prizes including the Uel Wade Scholarship Competition, the Schenectady Symphony Concerto Competition, and the Berkshire Lyric Young Artist Competition. This same year she was also named a winner of the 2007 National ASTA Solo Competition in the Junior Division. Cicely is a student of world-renowned cellist Peter Wiley and studies chamber music with Peter Serkin. William Forster crafted her beautiful cello in 1790 while living in London.