Michelle Djokic is a Grammy Award–nominated cellist, artistic director, curator, and arts advocate whose distinguished career spans performance, education, and creative leadership. A member of the New Century Chamber Orchestra, she performs widely as a soloist and chamber musician, collaborating with internationally acclaimed artists across classical, jazz, folk, and contemporary genres.

The youngest of seven children in an immigrant family, Michelle entered The Juilliard School’s Pre-College Division on a full scholarship at age eleven, studying with the legendary Leonard Rose. She went on to earn both her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School. At thirteen, she made her solo debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra, and in 1980 was awarded the People’s Prize at the Pablo Casals International Cello Competition. At twenty-one, she became the youngest female principal cellist of a professional orchestra when she won the position with the Denver Symphony Orchestra. She later made her Carnegie Hall solo debut with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and served as Associate Principal Cellist of the San Francisco Symphony before joining the New Century Chamber Orchestra. Her recording career includes a Grammy Award nomination in 2010.

Michelle is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Concordia Chamber Players in New Hope, Pennsylvania, and serves as Lead Artistic Advisor to the Carmel Music Society, helping guide one of the nation’s oldest chamber music presenters into its second century. She is also the founder of Musikiwest and creator of SandBox in Sand City, California—an intimate cultural hub that has presented more than 150 events featuring internationally renowned performers, emerging artists, and interdisciplinary collaborations spanning music, dance, theater, film, literature, architecture, and the visual arts.

Her performances have been praised for their expressive warmth and emotional depth. Reviewing her appearance with Emerald City Music, Seattle’s SunBreak wrote, “Bloch’s Prayer… was a moving and beautiful evocation of Jewish life… Her sound had warmth, depth and gentleness.” Critics have consistently recognized her ability to combine technical command with profound musical sensitivity, creating performances of remarkable lyricism and humanity.

Beyond the concert stage, Michelle has dedicated her career to expanding the role of the arts in community life. Through Musikiwest, SandBox, and her educational outreach initiatives, she has introduced thousands of students to live chamber music while mentoring emerging artists and fostering conversations centered on empathy, collaboration, and cultural understanding. Her work is guided by the belief that music is far more than performance—it is a catalyst for human connection, creative discovery, and lasting social impact.