Biography

Loretta O'Sullivan — praised by the NY Times as "an agile, eloquent player" — has played with many of this country's leading ensembles and orchestras. On period instruments, these include the Four Nations Ensemble, Opera Lafayette, Aston Magna, Artek, the Haydn Baryton Trio, the Classical Quartet, the Genzinger Quartet, and the American Classical Orchestra. She frequently performs with the Orchestra of St. Luke's.

In concerts and recordings, she has given memorable performances of Bach, Biber, and Britten for solo cello; concertos of Vivaldi, Porpora, and Fiorenza; obbligato cello arias of J.S. Bach, Caldara, and Handel; and a wide range of chamber music.

She recorded the complete Op. 5 sonatas of Francesco Geminiani, with the Four Nations Ensemble, for Orchid Classics.

As principal cellist of Opera Lafayette, she has performed at Versailles, the Kennedy Center, and the Rose Theater, and has recorded for Naxos. In 2025, the opera company will perform and record the world premiere of "Morgiane, ou Le Sultan d'Ispahan" by Edmond Dédé.

As principal cellist with the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, and featured artist in 2023, Loretta played the C.P.E. Bach cello concerto in a minor, the Vivaldi concerto for two cellos, and Sarah Quartel's "Snow Angel" for solo cello and children's choir. On tour with the Bach Choir, she performed at the Leipzig Bach Festival.

In 2024, she performed a set of movements of Bach and Britten solo cello suites, showing Bach's influence on the great British composer.

As part of "A Musical Heart" program, Loretta plays for hospice patients at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, PA.

She has set music to the poetry of Francine Ringold and Marilyn Miller, and to videos of artist Kathleen MacKenzie.

Résumé

  • The Washington Bach Consort

  • Opera Lafayette – Ryan Brown and Patrick Quigley

  • Bethlehem Bach Festival – Greg Funfgeld, Christopher Jackson

  • New York Collegium – Gustave Leonhardt, Rhinehart Goebel

  • Florida Grand Opera – Harry Bickett

  • The Grand Tour – Charles Brink

  • New England Bach Festival – Blanche Moyse

  • American Bach Soloists – Jeffrey Thomas

  • Mostly Mozart – Trevor Pinnock

  • Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra – Jaap Schroeder, Ken Slowik

  • Portland Baroque – Ken Slowik

  • Apollo Ensemble – John Hsu

  • Artek – Gwen Toth

PRINCIPAL CELLO / CONTINUO CELLO

  • Carnegie Recital Hall – modern cello

  • Merkin Concert Hall – baroque cello

  • University of Iowa

RECITALS

  • Four Nations Ensemble

  • Aston Magna

  • Classical Quartet

  • Haydn Baryton Trio

  • Red Cedar Chamber Music

  • Bach Aria Group – Bayview, Michigan

  • Duo recitals – David Breitman

CHAMBER MUSIC

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Performance Practice

  • Cello Masterclass – University of Iowa

  • Residencies with the Four Nations Ensemble

    • Jacksonville Symphony, Florida

    • Amarillo Symphony, Texas

    • University of Florida, Tallahassee

    • Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania

    • Kings College, Pennsylvania

    • Bucknell University, Pennsylvania

    • Lincoln Center Institute

  • Artek Institute – New York City

  • Faculty, Aston Magna Academy – Rutgers University, New Jersey

  • Continuo Coaching – Rutgers University, New Jersey

  • Pre-Concert lecture/demonstration with Larry Lipkis for Yo Yo Ma's

    • performance of the Bach Cello Suites – Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

  • Coaching with the Bach Aria Group – Bayview, Michigan

Faculty

  • Faculty Coach – Manhattan College, NYC

  • Teaching fellowship – Hartt College of Music

  • Julius Hartt School of Music

  • Third Street Music School

Private Teaching

  • Faculty Coach – Manhattan College, NYC

  • Teaching fellowship – Hartt College of Music

  • Julius Hartt School of Music

  • Third Street Music School

  • Bachelors of Music – Manhattan School of Music

  • Masters of Music – Hartt College of Music

  • Performance Practice – Stanley Ritchie, Jaap Schroeder, John Hsu and Sally Sanford

  • Private Studies – Harvey Shapiro, Evangeline Bennedetti, Barbara Stein Mallow and John Hsu

  • Nicholas Anderson – teaching techniques of Margaret Rowell

  • Alexander Technique – Pearl Ausubel, Evangeline Benedetti, and Cynthia Reynolds

  • School for Strings – one year Suzuki Training

EDUCATION