The Venezuelan cellist Yolena Orea Sánchez has been selected to play with the prestigious Strasburg Philharmonic Orchestra in France. The selection to occupy the only vacant spot occurred last April 5, 2008, in a rigorous contest with nearly 40 cellists from many countries participating. The Strasburg Philharmonic, founded in 1855, hosts many soloists and conductors with international recognition and has been praised many times for its high quality of interpretation of European classical music.

Orea has won 2 consecutive contests in Switzerland: the first one in 2006, to play with the Tonhalle Orchestra of Zürich for one year; and the second one in 2007, to join the Basel Symphony Orchestra, as part of the “Praktikum” program which both organizations offer as a means of opportunities for the most talented students from European conservatoriums. Another achievement that this Venezuelan young lady conquered in Switzerland was a concert diploma with honors at the “Tibor Varga” Superior Conservatorium and Music Academy, under the tutoring of Marcio Carneiro.

As a regular student at the High School of Music Academy of Basel, she is currently finishing her academic process to achieve a concert diploma in May, in Rafael Rosenfeld’s class. Later on in September she will join the cello row at the Strasburg Philharmonic.

Yolena Orea’s academic development in music has been closely linked to the Youth and Children’s Orchestras of Venezuela –an organization sponsored by the Government’s Department of Participation and Social Protection. She was a member of the National Youth and Children’s Symphony Orchestra, the Mérida State Symphony and the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela. Besides, she has a degree in music specialized in instrument performing, graduated Cum Laude from the University Institute for Musical Studies in the School of William Molina. Her current academics are backed financially by the High School of Music Academy of Basel and Venezuela’s “Mercantil” Foundation.

Translated by Rolando Betancourt