Ms. Abbey Desiree

Canadian cellist Desiree Abbey is an active performer and teacher dedicated to bringing music in all its forms to the community. Inspired by children, she is passionate about education and strongly believes in the power music has to help and shape the lives of people young and old alike. An active performer, she plays with the National Arts Centre Orchestra as an Extra Musician and with the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra as principal cellist. As a chamber musician, Desiree has collaborated with some of Canada’s finest musicians at Ottawa’s renowned Chamberfest and Music & Beyond music festivals.

Desiree has appeared with the National Repertory Orchestra, the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra, and the Guelph Symphony Orchestra. In addition, she has performed for the Mooredale Concert Series, the CIM Faculty Concert Series, the Cleveland Cello Society, and the New York Cello Society. Desiree has played in masterclasses for Andres Diaz, Steven Doane, Hans Jorgen Jensen, Ralph Kirshbaum and Christine Walevksa among others. As a chamber musician she has been coached by the Biava, Borromeo, Brentano, Cavani, Orion, Takács, and Tokyo quartets, Miriam Fried, Matt Haimovitz, Daniel Phillips, Sarah Rothenberg, Peter Salaff, Laurie Smukler, Mark Steinberg, Steven Tenenbom and Hiroko Yajima.

Her summers have taken her on tour to Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain and Turkey as part of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival Orchestral Academy. She has also attended The New York String Orchestra Seminar, The National Repertory Orchestra, Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, Bowdoin International Music Festival, and The Beijing International Music Festival. In her spare time she enjoys good jokes, the art of cooking and especially eating with friends.

Desiree holds a Professional Studies Diploma and a Master of Music degree from Mannes College The New School for Music with Timothy Eddy and a Bachelor of Music degree from The Cleveland Institute of Music with Desmond Hoebig. As a young cellist she attended The Chicago Suzuki Institute and Ithaca Suzuki Institute every summer and has since returned for Teacher Training as part of her commitment towards continued Professional Development.