Sonia Mantell

Cello | Minneapolis, MN

Illinois native Sonia Mantell joined the Minnesota Orchestra cello section in September 2020. She studied at New England Conservatory and DePaul School of Music under the tutelage of Natasha Brofksy and Brant Taylor, respectively. She was appointed principal/co-principal cellist of the NEC orchestras and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. While attending DePaul, she won the Concerto Competition with violinist Ari Urban and performed the Brahms Double Concerto with the DePaul Symphony. She has attended summer festivals at the Aspen Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute, Music Academy of the West and Tanglewood Music Center.

Mantell has been an active performer in Chicago. She won a substitute position with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, where she has played with the orchestra and on the MusicNow series of contemporary music. She has also performed with Music of the Baroque and the Rembrandt Chamber Series. She participated in the inaugural year of the 2017 Barnes Ensemble Festival in Philadelphia. Sonia played with Lyric Opera of Chicago for two seasons: A one year position in their 2018-19 season and then won a cello section position with the orchestra in December of 2018. She returned to Tanglewood for five summers, the last two as the cellist of the New Fromm Quartet program in 2018 and 2019. 

Mantell has collaborated in chamber music performances with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Leon Fleisher, members of the Jack Quartet, members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra and Lyric Opera Orchestra.