Violinist Célina Béthoux, 16, began her musical studies at the age of five with Cleveland Orchestra violinist Isabel Trautwein. She is currently enrolled in the Cleveland Institute of Music Young Artist Program, studying with Philip Setzer of the Emerson String Quartet and Jessica Lee, Assistant Concertmaster of The Cleveland Orchestra.
Célina made her solo debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony as First Prize winner of the Duquesne National Young Artist Competition. She also performed as soloist with several local orchestras, including the Cleveland Pops Orchestra conducted by Carl Topilow. As a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, she served as concertmaster several times and gave a solo performance of the Barber Concerto as a winner of the concerto competition. During COYO’s 2019 European tour, she was selected by conductor Vinay Parameswaran to perform the Schubert Octet as first violinist in a cross-cultural exchange with musicians from the Anton Bruckner University of Linz, Austria, coached by Maestro Franz Welser-Möst.
Célina received merit scholarships to attend the Music@Menlo and Heifetz International Institute music festivals. She has performed in master classes for Soovin Kim, James Ehnes, Todd Phillips, Peter Salaff, and Ani Kavafian. Célina loves writing, origami, and philosophy and strives to connect with the community through her music.