norman lebrecht
March 12, 2026
The San Franciso Conservatory of Music has informed us that its pre-college alum Starla Breshears has joined the San Francisco Symphony cello section at just 18 years old.
Here’s the SFCM press release:
San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) Pre-College alumna, cellist Starla Breshears, has been appointed to the San Francisco Symphony at just 18 years old, making her the youngest musician in the ensemble when she begins in the 2026-2027 season.
Breshears enrolled in SFCM’s Pre-College program in 2015, graduated in 2025 and finishes high school this year. “I’m seeing this as my education,” she says. “There are so many different ways to learn about the world as a musician. I’m just super-excited: I love San Francisco. This is my home; I have such a great support system with everybody at the Conservatory: my teachers, my friends, and my family close by. And I have so many favorite memories at Davies Hall watching the Symphony and playing in the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra.”
“Starla is an exemplary musician with an extraordinary work ethic,” SFCM President David Stull says. “SFCM is honored to have provided a path for her musical journey over this last decade. Her preternatural poise and acumen has allowed her to rise to the top, and this extraordinary opportunity is well-deserved. We are all deeply proud of her and will continue to support her through this transition into the professional world.”