Hometown:
Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
Education:
Carnegie Mellon University; Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cello Performance, Minor in Music Education, Minor in Psychology, 2023
Carnegie Mellon University; Advanced Music Studies Certificate in Instrumental Performance, expected 2024
Bio:
Haley Rasmussen is a recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon University. There, she held the Principal chair in the CMU Philharmonic for three years, played in the Honors Quartet for two years, and won the Philharmonic Award for Performance. This past summer was spent playing with the Adirondack Performing Arts Fellowship, and during a recent summer, she attended the Josef Gingold Chamber Music Festival of Miami. During her time at Carnegie Mellon, Haley studied with Anne Martindale-Williams, Principal Cellist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
What inspired you to become a musician?
The very first real piece of repertoire I ever played in an orchestra was Franz Liszt's Les preludes at the Csehy Summer School of Music. Even though I played maybe 20% of the notes, I so clearly remember feeling a passion and desire for collaborating in music I had never felt before.
Name three of your favorite composers:
Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2; Shostakovich Piano Trio No. 2; Mahler 9; There are moments in all of these pieces that I could listen to on a never-ending loop.
What is an interesting fact about you and/or your instrument?
I can quote the entirety of Monster's Inc.
When taking a break from music-making, what is your favorite thing to do?
I love to play board games with my friends. We usually leave mad at each other, however.
Why did you choose the NRO?
I have many reasons for choosing to play with the NRO this summer. But one special reason is that Eine Alpinesinfonie is my dream piece. I have heard it live, listened to it dozens of times, and have it on vinyl. Over the past few years, I have also developed a strong passion for leading in orchestra, and am truly excited and honored to get the opportunity to do so with the NRO. And of course, the history of excellence and opportunity to collaborate with other fine musicians and world-renown conductors is something that no musician would want to pass up!