Tonoi   

   The Sound of a New American Century

Laura Thomas-Merino, cello

Laura Thomas-Merino is a professional cellist originally from Los Angeles, currently residing in Providence, RI. Upon graduating with distinction from the School of Music at Indiana University, Laura accepted a cello position with the Graduate String Quartet at Wichita State University, where she received her graduate degree in cello performance. She has since performed in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Peru, and Italy. She is an orchestral and chamber musician, cello teacher, electronic musician, and concert presenter.

In Fall 2006, Laura was awarded a two-year fellowship with Community MusicWorks, an organization that provides free instruments and lessons to youth in the West Side of Providence. Recent performance highlights include a collaboration with Pamela Z in concert with the Robin Cox Ensemble, the world premiere of Andre Cormier’s Infections with the group OXO as part of the Sonic Boom Festival in Vancouver, and a house concert of Mendelssohn’s string octet with the Providence String Quartet.

Laura is co-curator of the quarterly experimental music series, CTRL+ALT+REPEAT, which features performances by local and internationally recognized performers of experimental electronics and new music. As a member of Mem1, an electroacoustic duo with media artist M. Cera, she has collaborated with the Penderecki String Quartet and performed at REDCAT (Walt Disney Hall), the Orange County Museum of Art, and at numerous galleries and festivals throughout Southern California and the East Coast. Mem1 was awarded a 2007 artist residency at Harvestworks in New York City. Their second full-length album, Alexipharmaca, was recently released by Interval Recordings.