Regarded for thoughtful interpretations and compelling execution, cellist Eli Lara has been praised for creating “a sense of complete awe” (ArtsNash). She has performed in Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, England, France, South Korea, and across the United States. Lara is a founding member of Trio Séléné whose albums of works for clarinet, cello, and piano can be heard on Summit and Blue Griffin record labels. She has performed with Alarm Will Sound, Kansas City Lyric Opera, Nashville Opera, Odyssey Chamber Music, and as principal cellist of the Paducah and Missouri Symphonies. In Nashville, she worked frequently as a studio musician; highlights include recording with Willie Nelson as well as video games for Sony PlayStation, Insomniac, Oculus Rift, and Electronic Arts.

Dedicated to promoting contemporary music, Lara has performed and/or premiered new works at National Sawdust, Berklee College of Music, Percussive Arts Society International Convention, and Summergarden at the New York MoMA among others. She is a member of Khemia Ensemble, a contemporary mixed chamber group whose mission is to embrace “broad perspectives in contemporary classical chamber music by presenting engaging performances, commissioning new works, and mentoring the next generation of musicians.” Their Intersections album on Ravello Records features world premiere recording of five works commissioned by Khemia.

Dr. Eli Lara is Associate Professor of Cello and cellist of the Esterhazy String Quartet at the University of Missouri. She has taught cello and chamber music masterclasses at several universities and music programs including Bowling Green, Columbia, Georgia, Michigan State, St. Olaf, Sinfonia por la Vida in Ecuador, and Federal University of Pará and Festival Internacional de Música do Amazonas in Brazil.

Lara studied at the Peabody Preparatory, Yale School of Music, and The Juilliard School. Her primary teachers include Stephen Kates, Ole Akahoshi, Aldo Parisot, and Joel Krosnick.