Chicagoland native Allison Chambers fell in love with the cello at the age of nine. She enjoys a diversified musical career of teaching, performing, and working behind the scenes as a music librarian. Allison strives to be what Yo-Yo Ma describes as a “citizen musician” by serving the community through art and music. She is a passionate educator and teaches cellists of all ages.

Allison is a former member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and presently performs with the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. She is also an active chamber musician with Fifth Wave Collective, a performing group working to bring the music of women to the foreground of classical music.

Allison has had the pleasure of performing and collaborating with Yo-Yo Ma, Storycatchers Theatre, Chicago Fringe Opera, the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra, Fox Valley Opera, Whiting Park Festival Orchestra, and Orchestra Iowa. She has spent her summers conducting a European concert tour with the Buffalo Grove High School Orchestras, prepping music in the Grant Park Music Festival library, and concertizing across wine country with Festival Napa Valley.

Allison earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Elmhurst University and a Master of Music in Cello Performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts. She plays a modern cello by Chicago maker Sean Colledge.

When she isn’t behind her cello, you can find her enjoying time with loved ones, exploring the outdoors, or curled up with a good book and her Chihuahua, Mabel.