Chava Appiah

Chava Appiah ’10 is a professional cellist whose career bridges performance, identity, and artistic expression. Inspired as a child by watching Yo-Yo Ma on Sesame Street, Appiah’s love for music took root early and blossomed during her years at Cranbrook, where she balanced academics with sports and music in a household that celebrated both intellectual curiosity and the arts. She went on to earn dual degrees in neuroscience and cello performance at Oberlin College & Conservatory before completing her master’s in cello at the New England Conservatory of Music. After performing with the New World Symphony in Miami and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Appiah began her Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, while also performing with the Louisville Orchestra. A passionate advocate for greater representation in classical music, she uses performance as a platform for exploring cultural heritage and personal narrative, weaving together her experiences as the daughter of a Ghanaian father and a Jewish mother. Appiah encourages young musicians to pursue their passions boldly—wherever they lead—and reminds them that music can be a lifelong companion in many forms.

 

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