NATALIA VILCHIS
CELLO FACULTY

Natalia is a Mexican cellist recognized for her expressive artistry and distinguished work as a soloist, orchestral leader, chamber musician, and educator. She currently serves as Principal Cellist of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra and is a member of the Baltimore Chamber Players. From 2021 to 2025, she was Principal Cellist of the Mount Vernon Virtuosi Orchestra and continues to serve as Cellist of the Mount Vernon Virtuosi Cello Ensemble.

Natalia has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician with leading ensembles in Mexico and the United States, including the UANL Symphony Orchestra, the National Mexican Baroque Orchestra, the Youth Orchestra of ESMDM, and the Columbia Orchestra. She has performed in major venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Strathmore, Liederkranz Concert Hall, the Blas Galindo Hall, and other prominent concert halls throughout Monterrey, Mexico City, Washington DC, and Baltimore. Her festival appearances include the Festival Internacional de Música de Cámara de San Miguel de Allende, Keshet Eilon International Mastercourse, Haus der Musik Chamber Music Festival, and the Accademia Musicale Chigiana.

In May 2025, Natalia was featured in The Strad magazine. Her performance of Piazzolla’s Autumn with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra received critical acclaim from Washington Classical Review: “Piazzolla’s ‘Autumn’ featured a poised, rapturous cello solo from FSO principal Natalia, while Chee-Yun delivered a tango with fine shades of color as the orchestra and Zimmerman provided supple support.”

Her discography includes Bach 6 with 4 (CTM Classics) with Amit Peled and the Mount Vernon Virtuosi Cello Gang, recordings with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra for the NAXOS American Classics Series, and an appearance on NPR’s Tiny Desk with Rubio.

An award-winning artist, Natalia has earned First Prize at the National Violoncello Competition of Mexico on three occasions, Second Prize at the Forte International Music Competition in New York, and Second Prize at the Mount Vernon Virtuosi Cello Competition. She is also a recipient of the James Winship Lewis Memorial Prize, and the Olga Owens Award in Performance.

Equally committed to education, Natalia is currently Cello Professor at Bethany Music Center and Howard Music School, and serves as Guest Cello Professor at the Escuela Superior de Música y Danza de Monterrey. She has previously held teaching positions at Potomac Music School and the community outreach initiative Every Child Deserves a Voice. In addition, she works as a Research Editor for Répertoire International de la Presse Musicale.

Through her work with Mount Vernon Virtuosi, Natalia performs on a cello generously donated by Rhonda Stoffel, formerly played by her late husband, Peter Rudolfi.