Cellist Sara Flexer, 16, began studying cello at age six with Irene Sharp and currently studies with Jonathan Koh. In 2023, Sara was selected for the FTT Learning and Media Lab Fellowship and was featured on NPR’s From the Top. Later that year, she was invited to perform the Schumann Cello Concerto as a Debut Artist with the mainstage program of the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra. 

A 2024 National YoungArts Award winner, Sara participated in the YoungArts Lab Program in Los Angeles. She won third prize at the 2023 National MTNA String Competition Finals, after winning first prizes at the MTNA California State Competition and the MTNA Southwest Division Competition. She has also won first prize at the Enkor International Music Competition and Korea Times Youth Music Competition, and top prizes at the DVC/HNU Young Artist String Competition and KAMSA Competition. 

Sara made her solo debut at age 10 with the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra as the winner of PACO’s concerto competition. She has performed in masterclasses for David Finckel, Zlatomir Fung, Matt Haimovitz, Wu Han, and Jennifer Frautschi, among others. In 2022 and 2023, Sara attended Music@Menlo Chamber Music Festival, studying with Ani Kavafian, Dmitri Atapine, Hyeyeon Park, and the Calidore Quartet. In 2024, she participated in the senior division of the Heifetz International Music Institute. Sara currently performs in a piano trio at the Young Chamber Musicians (YCM) Program. She is a rising junior at Castilleja School in Palo Alto, California.