Cellist Isabel Morales, 18, is a recent graduate of the Girard Academic Music Program in Philadelphia, where she played principal cello in the orchestra; sang in the choir, concert choir and All-City Choir; and participated onstage in the cast of the musicals (Karen, Mean Girls; Tanya, Mamma Mia!). Isabel will be attending the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings, Mercer University starting in fall 2025. A member of the Youth Chamber Orchestra at the Temple University Center for Gifted Young Musicians, she has performed with the group both in Philadelphia and in Iceland. As a scholarship recipient in the Settlement Music School Advanced Study Program, she is the cellist of the Ann Newman String Quartet. The Newman Quartet was selected for the 2024 Fischoff Competition. She has participated in PMEA District 12 Orchestras, Chorus, and Regional Orchestras. During the summers, Isabel has attended Luzerne Music Center, the Dalí String Quartet International Music Festival, Sphinx Performance Academy (Boulder), Point Counterpoint, and Madeline Island Chamber Music Festival. She is a winner of the Old York Road Symphony’s Young Artists’ Competition, the Ambler Symphony Scholarship Award and the Women’s Symphony Association’s Youth Instrumental Music Competition (Lancaster). As principal cellist of the Philadelphia All-City Orchestra and the winner of the All-City Concerto Competition, she performed as soloist with the orchestra in Marian Anderson Hall (Kimmel Center) in March 2025. Isabel started cello at age 4 with Amy Barston. Currently a student of Rachel Freivogel, Isabel has also studied with Yumi Kendall and Christopher Fiore. Isabel enjoys reading, dancing, attending the theater, and fashion.