Isabella Egawa, 20, is a junior pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with Professor Andrés Cárdenes at Carnegie Mellon University. She began her studies in violin at age five, primarily studying with Ms. Meichen Liao-Barnes of The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. Isabella has participated in various programs and has led many ensembles in her career thus far; she previously served as concertmaster of the NAfME All-National Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, and the PMEA All-State Symphony Orchestra; Associate Concertmaster of the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra under Daniel Harding; and Assistant Principal Second of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America under Marin Alsop. In addition, Isabella has attended the New York String Orchestra Seminar, Manchester Music Festival, Music Masters Course Japan, and Taipei Music Academy & Festival. Outside of orchestra and chamber, Isabella has had the pleasure of performing solo with the Ambler Symphony Orchestra and Old York Road Symphony Orchestra for winning their annual competitions. She has also won first prize at the Tri-County Youth Festival’s senior division’s solo competition and the Nelly Berman School’s “Young Classical Virtuosos of Tomorrow” chamber competition. Recently, Isabella was a finalist in the 2019 CMU Concerto Competition, receiving the Harry G. Archer Award and Pittsburgh Female College Association Prize for her performance. Currently, Isabella serves as co-principal second violin of the CMU Philharmonic and plays in string quartet with her fellow students. She often performs student compositions, and gave a virtual premiere of the third movement of Lucas Sherman’s Concerto No. 1 in May 2020. Isabella dabbles in composition herself as well, and had one of her pieces read by Third Coast Percussion in March 2020. Aside from the violin, Isabella is pursuing an Environmental Science and Sustainabilities Minor at Carnegie Mellon. She also enjoys drawing, playing the piano, guitar, electric bass, and producing and writing songs.
