Charlotte Choi

Charlotte has been playing the cello for nearly 10 years, having started when she was only 5 years old. She began studying the cello with Alita Rhodes and currently studies with Sarah Koo Freeman.

​Charlotte’s experience in cello is demonstrated by her completion of levels 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the Royal Conservatory of Music’s First Class Honors exam for violoncello. She has also been in the National Cello Institute (NCI) for 6 years and has many years of experience playing with other musicians in orchestra and chamber music groups. At the age of six she joined Santa Barbara Strings and was a passionate member from 2012–2018, and was in the most advanced orchestra (Vivace) for 3 years. Charlotte also took part in Santa Barbara Strings’ chamber music program from 2014-2018 and was able to play in various piano trios and quartets. In 2020 Charlotte joined Chamber Music Orange County, where her quintet was coached by Iryna Krechkovsky, an international concert violinist and music educator, and was given the opportunity for cellist Clive Smith in a masterclass. Charlotte has played in many other masterclasses for renowned cellists such as Anthony Elliot, Rick Mooney, Nancy Yamagata, Amy Barston, and Alan Stepansky.

​Locally, Charlotte has won a scholarship from the Santa Barbara Music Club for the past 5 years in a row (2017–2021). She received an honorable mention in the 2019 Los Angeles Violoncello Society (LAVS) competition and placed 2nd in the Intermediate Cello level in the 2020 American String Teachers Association (ASTA) competition. This year, Charlotte won 1st prize in the 2021 International Music Competition “Rome” Grand Prize Virtuoso. She has also been invited as a quarter-finalist to Moscow, Russia, for the XI International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians.

​Charlotte’s other hobbies include reading, listening to music, and spending time with her friends and family. She currently attends Dos Pueblos High School and loves taking part in her school’s Mock Trial team and Engineering Academy.