Cuban-American cellist Dr. Tommy Mesa is recognized as one of his generation’s most charismatic, innovative performers. Recipient of the 2025 Avery Fisher Career Grant and the Sphinx Organization’s 2023 Medal of Excellence, Mesa has appeared as a soloist at the U.S. Supreme Court and with major ensembles like the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Cleveland Orchestra, and The Philadelphia Orchestra.

Mesa gave the 2022 world premiere of Jessie Montgomery’s cello concerto Divided, performing it at Carnegie Hall and releasing his orchestral recording debut on Deutsche Grammophon. Recent highlights include premiering Michael Abels’ new cello concerto with the Dallas Symphony, touring with pianist Olga Kern, and giving the Midwest premiere of Wynton Marsalis’ cello concerto alongside Yo-Yo Ma and Cristian Mӑcelaru.

An active recording artist, Mesa’s album Division of Memory earned critical acclaim. His discography includes tango works with JP Jofre, an album with pianist Michelle Cann featuring Black and Latinx composers, and appearances on GRAMMY-nominated projects with The Crossing Choir.

As a chamber musician, Mesa is the principal cellist of Sphinx Virtuosi, has toured with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and collaborated with Itzhak Perlman.

A former First Prize winner in the Sphinx Competition, Mesa joined the cello faculty at the Manhattan School of Music in 2025. He holds degrees from Juilliard, Northwestern University, and Manhattan School of Music. Mesa performs on a 1767 Nicolò Gagliano cello and an Andre Richaume bow, generously on loan from CANIMEX INC