Laura Schlessinger

BA, M.Mus.

Strings Faculty

lscello@telusplanet.net

Laura Schlessinger is the founding cellist of the piano trio MUSIC MOSAIC. Formerly principal cellist and soloist with the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, Laura has appeared as a CBC recitalist, and as co-principal cellist with the Malmo (Sweden) Symphony and Theatre Orchestra. She was among the first class of women to study at Yale University where she received both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Music in Performance/Cello. Her principal teacher was Aldo Parisot. She has also participated in masterclasses with Janos Starker, Pierre Fournier, Antonio Janigro and Vladimir Orloff.

Laura founded MUSIC MOSAIC in 1984 while studying at the Banff Centre School of Fine Arts. She has been a core member of the ensemble, New Works Calgary, which is dedicated to the performance of contemporary music. Currently Laura performs regularly with the Kensington Sinfonia. She has recently launched a new ensemble called Music by Bellissima, with pianist Susanne Ruberg-Gordon and mezzo-soprano, Nan Hughes, and of course she loves going out to Ontario to play with the CMSM Trio.

Early on, Laura suspected that her eclectic musical tastes and love for the theatre would force her to find a new direction in the performance of classical chamber music. Growing out of those suspicions, MUSIC MOSAIC has enjoyed touring throughout western Canada. Their debut CD, Music Mosaic: Music of Countryside and Wilderness, was released on her recording label New Concert Discs. She also appears on the CD E-Motion (music of David Eagle and Hope Lee), on the same label, and on Views From the Americas, with the Kensington Sinfonia.

Laura is the featured soloist in a Bravo video called The Lulu Waltz by Jean Sibelius. She has recently performed Svyati for solo cello and chorus by John Taverner with the Calgary Festival Chorus. Other highlights include a two week tour of the Grand Canyon where she performed in a string quartet for a river rafting expedition. Recently she had the honor of playing with her trio, Music Mosaic, for the Prime Minister's opening reception at the Kananaskis G8 Summit.