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Cellist Sara Flexer, 15, is a rising sophomore at Castilleja School in Palo Alto, California. She began studying cello at age six with Irene Sharp and currently studies with Jonathan Koh. In 2023, she was featured on NPR’s “From the Top” show #426 after being selected for the From the Top Learning and Media Lab Fellowship. She won first prize in the 2023 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Southwest Division Competition, the 2022 MTNA California State Competition, the 2019 ENKOR International Music Competition, and the 2018 Korea Times Youth Music Competition. She has also received top prizes in the 2023 MTNA National Competition Finals, the 2023 Korean-American Music Supporters’ Association Competition, and the 2023 DVC/HNU Young Artist String Competition. Sara made her solo debut at age 10 with the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra as the winner of PACO’s concerto competition in 2018, and she will join the orchestra on tour to Italy this summer. She has performed in masterclasses with acclaimed artists including Zlatomir Fung and Matt Haimovitz, among others. Sara attended the Music@Menlo Chamber Music Festival and Institute in the summer of 2022, and she will be studying chamber music at the California Music Preparatory Academy this coming year.