Desiree Kelila Anderson
Cellist
Desiree Anderson has performed in music halls all over the world as a chamber musician, concert soloist and recitalist. She has performed in various music festivals and outreach programs throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, as well as in Haiti and South Korea. An avid devotee to the progress of new music, Desiree has world premiered and recorded numerous chamber and solo works. In the same vein, Desiree composes cello solo works to accompany theatrical plays and dance performances. Many of her works have been performed in New York, Washington DC, Chicago and Jerusalem.
Desiree holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, two Master degrees in Cello Performance and String Pedagogy from Ohio University and an Artist Diploma from the University of Cincinnati – College Conservatory. She has studied under the guidance of Lee Fiser, Dr. Michael Carrera, and Dr. Stefan Kartman as well as with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. While working with the CSO and guest conductors, she was also a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.
Both a composer and performer, Desiree is currently working with the Visceral Dance Company (www.visceraldance.com) and is a member of the Chicago Band: Mano. This 6-person instrumental band combines “typical” band instruments (drums, guitar and bass) with flute, violin and cello – all amplified and with pedals galore to create a truly unique sound that many have described as “Metal-Eastern” Rock. Overall, Desiree’s present focus is on the promotion of new music and the collaborative process between composer and performer. She believes that it is just as important to perform and learn from the great music of the past as well as to explore and create with musicians and artists of the present. Life is a constant ebb and flow – music is a reflection of this ever evolving, ever fluctuating, ever delicate collection of moments that each human being is given. Some moments more momentous than others - all we can do is try to make sense of them in whatever ways we see fit.
Desiree finds her comfort, her sense of self, in her first and true love…music.