Natasha Farny

Natasha Farny serves as Professor of Cello at the State University of New York at Fredonia School of Music, where she maintains a full studio of cello majors, coaches chamber music ensembles, and directs the string chamber ensemble program. An internationally recognized performer, she has collaborated with orchestras including the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Buffalo Philharmonic while touring extensively across Germany, the Czech Republic, and Brazil.

Her academic foundation includes undergraduate studies at the Curtis Institute of Music and Yale University, a Master of Music from the Eastman School of Music, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from The Juilliard School, complemented by a fully-funded year of study at Leipzig's Hochschule in Germany.

Dr. Farny's research centers on amplifying underrepresented voices in classical music, with specialized focus on women composers, Baroque performance practices, and therapeutic approaches to performance anxiety. Her scholarly trajectory reveals deep engagement with Kaija Saariaho's compositions, Beethoven's cello works, and the rare Theremin Cello repertoire, alongside innovative pedagogical frameworks for advanced string technique.

Her creative output consistently champions gender equity in music, evidenced by the "Women's Voices" recording project and analytical work on Romantic-era cello sonatas by women. This thematic thread connects her performance practice with academic discourse, challenging traditional canons through both artistic interpretation and scholarly publication.

Her distinguished accolades include the Robert W. Kasling Lecture Award (2021) and Hagan Young Scholar Award (2010), reflecting sustained excellence in artistic performance and academic contribution.

• The Robert W. Kasling Lecture Award, SUNY Fredonia (2021)
• 2020 Summer Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Grant, Fredonia College Foundation (2020)
• Individual Development Award, UUP (2020)
• Avaloch Farm Music Institute Residency, Avaloch Farm (2017)
• Professional Development Award for Teaching & Learning, SUNY Fredonia Professional Development Center (2015)
• Encore Grant, American Composers Forum (2011)
• Hagan Young Scholar Award, SUNY Fredonia (2010)
• Individual Development Award, UUP (2008)
• Scholarly Incentive Award, SUNY Fredonia (2007)

Mentoring excellence defines her academic impact, with graduates pursuing advanced degrees at The Peabody Institute, Indiana University, and Cleveland Institute of Music. Several music education alumni received Grammy Music Educator of the Year nominations, while her research initiatives have secured continuous funding from the Research Foundation for SUNY and United University Professions.

As co-founder of the Ekstasis Duo with pianist Eliran Avni, she has developed a nationally touring chamber ensemble that released the critically acclaimed "Women's Voices" album in 2021, establishing a vital platform for contemporary repertoire by women composers.