MADEART
soundwaves
artist spotlight
MADE BY ASHLEY WHITE
AYA N N A W I L L I A M S A . K . A .
YA N N A C E L LO
@yannacello
CHICAGO
RECENT PROJECT:
I was honored to perform at seven
BMW-sponsored Black excellence
events in Martha’s Vineyard and LA.
BMW celebrated their commitment
to diversity by honoring various
causes and leaders of marginalized
communities. I performed with
my friend and outstanding electric
guitarist, Edward Vaughn. It was an
unforgettable and amazing experience.
Can you provide a brief bio on your
music journey? Why the cello?
My first instrument was actually
the piano, but I fell in love with
the cello in fifth grade, my school
introduced us to various string and
wind instruments. At first, I chose
the double bass but was told it was
too big for girls (sexist!). I went for the
next biggest instrument, the cello, and
never looked back.
At the same time, my two little
cousins, Mira Williams and Ade
Williams, were taking violin lessons.
We got together and called ourselves
SugarStrings. We performed regularly
for schools, churches, fundraisers,
and cultural events in Chicago and
around the country and were featured
in Ebony, Windy City Live, NBC, ABC,
WTTW, WFMT Radio, and more. Our
mission was quality music education
for children.
Music instruction is expensive, so in
exchange for my private lessons, group
lessons, music theory classes, and
ensemble classes, my mother worked
for free at the Hyde Park Suzuki
Institute and somehow found donors,
sponsors, scholarships, and fee waivers
to pay for summer music camps.
Thanks to her sacrifice, I studied with
some of the best cello instructors in
the country. My cello journey has been
nothing but a family operation.
What are three words that sum up
your love of music and why?
PASSION Music is pure mood, pure
vibration. It speaks to us in a language
our soul understands, loves, and
craves.
#mademaven
23