Grace Goeller, originally from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is a student at the University of South Dakota studying Cello Performance under the tutelage of Dr. Sonja Kraus. She will perform Lalo’s Cello Concerto in D minor, paired with Clara Schumann’s Piano Trio in G minor.

At USD, Grace has been a member of the USD Chamber Orchestra, the USD Symphony Orchestra (where she served as Assistant Principal in 2024), Ensemble Zusammen, the USD Opera Orchestra, and the Cherry St. Quartet. In spring 2024, Grace became the cellist for the Belle Piano Trio, a student chamber ensemble at USD that works under the mentorship of members of the Rawlins Piano Trio. Outside of USD, Grace has performed with the Christmas at the Cathedral Orchestra, the Cherokee Symphony Orchestra, and as a chamber musician for the Candlelight Concert series in Sioux Falls. Grace has also attended various international festivals, including Cello Fresno and the Fresno Summer Orchestra and Opera Academy (FOOSA), where she performed Mahler’s 7th Symphony at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California. In 2022, Grace was a finalist for USD’s Concerto Aria Competition, where she performed the first movement of the Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1. Grace was also the winner of the 2022 SDMTA Competition in the Collegiate Strings category. In addition to performing and competing, Grace is a passionate educator and is working on building her private studio in Vermillion and the surrounding communities. She currently teaches private lessons in Sioux Falls through Poppler’s Music, as well as in Sioux City through the Music Academy at First Methodist. Grace has also worked closely with non-profit music outreach music program Harmony South Dakota, where she taught private lessons, led rehearsals and classes, and mentored young musicians.

Ms. Goeller will be playing a cello made by the Gagliano Brothers, Naples, Italy, 1777, with a bow by Albert Nürnberger. The instrument is a promised gift of Ken Cancelosi, in memory of his father, Robert Cancelosi.