Laura Sewell

Cellist, Laura Sewell, enjoys an active and varied musical career and has distinguished herself as a highly respected chamber musician. From 2007-2016 she was a member of the Artaria String Quartet which was appointed as one of Minnesota Public Radio’s ensembles-in-residence, was featured on Twin Cities Public Television’s “Minnesota Originals” series, and performed the complete Shostakovich quartet cycle to critical acclaim. Earlier in her career she was the founding cellist of the award-winning Lark Quartet.

Ms. Sewell received her Bachelor’s Degree from the Juilliard School where she was a student of Leonard Rose, and her Master’s Degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music where she studied with Alan Harris. She also had the unique opportunity, at the age of 17, to study with the legendary cellist, Jacqueline DuPre. Her chamber music teachers have included members of the Juilliard, Tokyo, American, Guarneri, and Budapest quartets, as well as Felix Galimir, Josef Gingold and William Pleeth.

Ms. Sewell plays as a substitute cellist with both the Minnesota and St. Paul Chamber Orchestras and has been a guest artist with the Chamber Music Society of Minnesota, the Bakken Trio, and the Musical Offering. She has appeared on “Saint Paul Sunday” and on “A Prairie Home Companion” on several occasions. She has premiered solo works by Paul Schoenfield, Stephen Paulus, and Steve Heitzeg, and chamber works by Libby Larsen, Peter Schickele, Jon Deak, and Stanislaw Skrowacewski. From 2000-2008 she served on the board of Chamber Music America, the national service organization for chamber musicians, and was its Chair for four years.