Char Prescott is a dynamic soloist, chamber musician, and educator originally from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Renowned for her expressive artistry and versatility, she previously served as the Principal Cellist of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Chamber Orchestra. In this role, she regularly performed at the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the State Department, and other distinguished venues, contributing to the ceremonial and cultural life of the nation.
A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music (M.M.), where she studied with Alan Stepansky, and Northwestern University (B.M.), under Hans Jensen, Char has built a distinguished performance career both in the U.S. and internationally. She has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater and Millennium Stage, the Phillips Collection, Evermay in Georgetown, and at the Japanese Ambassador’s residence for the Washington Performing Arts Society. Her solo engagements have included performances with the Marine Chamber Orchestra, the Columbia Orchestra, the Northwestern Symphony Orchestra, and the Reston Chamber Symphony, as well as a solo appearance at the September 11th Memorial at the World Trade Center.
Char’s festival performances span across North America and Europe, with appearances in Canada, Spain, and Germany. She has been featured as Principal Cellist at the Tanglewood Music Center and the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. Additional orchestral credits include performances at Carnegie Hall with the New York String Seminar Orchestra under Jaime Laredo, and as Principal Cellist with the Chamber Orchestra of San Antonio.
She is a frequent guest with ensembles such as the National Symphony Orchestra, the Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra, the 21st Century Consort, and the Pressenda Chamber Players, and has performed with numerous string quartets across North America and Europe—including a collaboration with the American String Quartet in New York City.
Char’s artistry has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Grand Prize of S&R Foundation’s Washington Award, the President’s Award from the Manhattan School of Music, the Karl Zeise Memorial Cello Award from the Tanglewood Music Center, and top honors from the WAMSO Young Artists Competition and the Klein International String Competition.
In addition to her classical work, Char was the cellist of Mason Jar Music, a genre-defying collective that has brought her into collaboration with acclaimed popular artists. She has performed live with Feist at Radio City Music Hall, Andrew Bird at the Covenant Fine Arts Center, Josh Groban, and toured nationally with Josh Garrels and pop rock band Ra Ra Riot, where she showcased her talents on electric cello.