Sonya Moomaw

As a sophomore in high school, Sonya Moomaw is already a decorated cellist, having placed first in the Pacific Musical Society and Foundation Competition, Music Teachers National Association Junior Strings Competition, and Cleveland Cello Society Scholarship Competition. In 2025, she placed second in the Junior Division of the Annual National Sphinx Competition, having received third place in the same competition in 2024. In 2023, 2024, and 2025, she was awarded the Norman E. Johns Chair Award from the Multicultural Awareness Council of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestras, and she is principal cellist of the CSYO Philharmonic.

At eight-years-old, Sonya made her orchestral debut with the University of Cincinnati Symphony. Since then, she has performed concertos with the Cincinnati and Sphinx Symphonies and Buffalo and Dayton Philharmonics, among others. She attends the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati, where she is principal cellist of the SCPA Chamber Orchestra. In addition, Sonya is a jazz and bluegrass artist and has been featured at festivals including the Cincinnati Appalachian Festival, Cabin Fever in Kentucky, Whispering Beard in Ohio, and MapHop in Indiana. Sonya studies classical cello with Dr. Sarah Kim and jazz with Joe Policastro and Erwin Stuckey.