Shannon Ross

Cellist Shannon Ross is a dynamic and innovative musician now in her second-year fellowship at the New World Symphony. Previously based in Boston, her recent performances include Ligeti’s Chamber Concerto in Boston Symphony Hall for their Ligeti100 Celebration, and a performance of Boulez’ Messagesquisse as the featured soloist conducted by Hugh Wolff. She is an active contemporary musician and was awarded the John Cage Award for Contemporary Music by the New England Conservatory in 2024.

Shannon's cello journey began at the age of 12 in Sarasota, where within her first few years of playing, she won the Anna Maria Island Orchestra Young Artist Competition, performed alongside the Sarasota Orchestra and was featured on NPR’s From the Top with Christopher O’Reilly in Jordan Hall.

Her love of orchestra started at the Aspen Musical Festival, where in 2019, she was awarded a fellowship from the Polonsky Foundation to attend. She has since played with ensembles such as the London Sinfonietta, Manson Ensemble, nec[shivaree], NEC Chamber Orchestra and the NEC Philharmonia. She has also attended the Bowdoin International Music Festival, Schiermonnikoog Festival and the Banff Centre’s Evolution:Chamber program where she worked with the Parker, JACK and Eybler quartets.

Shannon holds a bachelor’s degree from the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she worked with Josephine Knight, and was awarded the Sir John Barbirolli Prize for Outstanding Musicianship. She received her master’s degree from the New England Conservatory, where she studied with Yeesun Kim. She is forever grateful to her former mentors Abraham Feder, Andrew Mark and Mickey Katz.

Shannon is also on the faculty at Kinhaven Music School’s Junior Session in Vermont, where she teaches privately and coaches chamber music.