Masumi Per Rostad Talks Instruments with Cellist Thomas Mesa

Ever been between instruments? Join Tommy on his search for his dream instrument

Grammy Award-winning, Japanese-Norwegian violist Masumi Per Rostad is an active performer and professor of viola and chamber music at the Eastman School of Music. As a former member of the Pacifica Quartet for almost two decades, he also founded DoCha, a chamber music festival in Champaign, Illinois.

Amidst his busy schedule, Masumi sits down with his friends and colleagues to discuss the ins and outs of their instruments in his Sound Post series.

After a successful Series 1 in 2020, The Violin Channel is pleased to present Series 2 of Sound Post! Episode 7 features cellist Thomas Mesa, who is in between cellos.

In this video, he's testing out an 18th Century Venetian Gigli instrument. Is this the cello of his dreams? Will he spend the rest of his musical life with this cello?

The recipient of the 2023 Sphinx Medal of Excellence Award, First Prize in the 2016 Sphinx Competition, and Winner of the Astral Artists 2017 National Auditions, Thomas Mesa performed as a soloist with orchestras such as The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, The Cleveland Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.

In this season and the next, Mesa is premiering and touring Jessie Montgomery’s Divided for solo cello and orchestra. He will also enjoy a residency at Colburn Conservatory, curating and performing chamber music programs with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and duo recording projects with Olga Kern, JP Jofre, and Michelle Cann

A frequent collaborator at Jupiter Chamber Players and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Mesa serves as the principal cellist of Sphinx Virtuosi.