Cecilia O’Malley, 17, is an accomplished violinist, cellist, and pianist who began her musical studies at the age of 2. An avid performer and competitor, Cecilia has received awards from the Society of American Musicians, Robert Stanger Concerto Competition, Rockford Young Artist Competition, Walgreen’s National Concerto Competition, Lakeview Concerto Competition, NIU Sinfonia Competition, Confucius Fine Arts Competition, and the Oistrakh Concerto Festival. As a soloist, she has collaborated with numerous orchestras across the United States on both violin and cello, including the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, the Minnesota Sinfonia, the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra, the Black Hills Symphony, the Oistrakh Symphony, the Lakeview Symphony, and the Highland Park Strings Orchestra. A dedicated chamber musician, Cecilia has garnered first places at the Rembrandt Chamber Players Competition, the Glass City Chamber Competition, and Chicago’s National Chamber Competition, as well as second places at the Barnett Chamber Competition and the Enkor International Chamber Competition. In May 2025, her ensemble was awarded the Bronze Medal in the Fischoff National Chamber Competition.

Cecilia has spent her summers at the Black Oak Ensemble’s Cordes en Gascogne Festival in France and at the Meadowmount School of Music. She is privileged to study with Professor Gerardo Ribeiro of Northwestern University on violin, Dr. Tanya Carey on cello, and Ms. Tatyana Stepanova on piano. In her free time, Cecilia enjoys reading 1800s British literature, studying French, watching Hollywood Golden Age movies, and spending time with her dog, Jack!