Jacob Hernandez is a Colombian-American cellist who has performed across the United States, Europe, and Latin America. He has performed alongside Steven Isserlis, Yo-Yo Ma, Seth Parker Woods, Katia and Marielle Labèque, and the American String Quartet. His performances have taken him to major venues including Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Vienna Konzerthaus, Kölner Philharmonie, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center.
He has participated in projects with the Filarmónica Joven de Colombia, Filarmónica de Bogotá, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia, and Orchestra of the Americas. His festival engagements include the Rheingau Musik Festival, Portillo Festival, Guadalajara Festival, Festival de Cartagena, and the Run AMOC* Festival at Lincoln Center.
An avid chamber musician, Jacob has been a member of Ensemble Zocoró for almost a decade, a chamber music project celebrating Latin American biodiversity through clarinet, cello, and guitar. The ensemble won Colombia’s prestigious Serie de Jóvenes Intérpretes competition in 2024, through which Jacob was later selected as the winner of the competition’s Soloist Category. He will make his Bogotá solo debut in 2027.
Suzuki-trained and certified, Jacob has worked with young musicians through the Union City Music Project, East River Children’s Youth Orchestra, Batuta Bogotá, and Fundación Acesco. He has participated in master classes with Alexander Buzlov, Kian Soltani, Santiago Cañón-Valencia, Inbal Segev, and Amit Peled.
Jacob earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Cello Performance from the National University of Colombia and his Master’s Degree from Brooklyn College. His predominant musical mentors have been Madeleine Golz in the United States and Diego Garcia in Colombia. He is currently pursuing an Advanced Diploma in Cello Performance with Wolfram Koessel of the American String Quartet.
