Classical Musicians of African Descent

WXXI Classical 91.5 is in the process of building a resource of photos and brief biographical information about musicians of African descent. This resource is by no means complete, and we rely on you to help us build the site by sharing your information. Please click on the alphabetical groupings below to begin your discovery.

Ifetayo Ali-Landing, cello

Classical 91.5 WXXO-FM | By Ruth Phinney

Published August 3, 2017 at 4:28 PM EDT

African woman with a short black hair holding her cello

Ifetayo Ali won the 2017 Junior Sphinx Competition in that year at the age of 14. She began her musical studies on violin when she was able to stand. At age 3, she decided that she preferred the mellow sounds of the cello and begged her mother to switch. She was allowed to switch at age 4. Her teachers and coaches have been Lucinda Ali Landing, Megan Lauterbach, Martine Benmann at the Hyde Park Suzuki Institute, Tahirah Whittington, Oleksa Mycyk, and Hans Jørgen Jensen. She has also studied with teachers at summer music camps at Suzuki-Deerfield, Illinois Wesleyan, Sphinx Performance Academy, and Meadowmount.