From Rock to Classical & from Opera to Pop, Cello Diva is no ordinary cellist…

Aside from evident mastery of the instrument... Maer's lovely, deep tone and silky elastic touch is evocative...

Liz Seymour - Arts Hub News Wire Review: Cello Diva, Bed of Roses

Maer is part of a new breed, bringing a refreshing, versatile approach to performances.

Josephine Allison - The West Australian

From the pavements of Covent Garden to the Sydney Symphony, Maer's career brings new life to the tired concept of boundary pushing.

Alexandra Coughlan - Time Out Magazine, Sydney

Sally... radiates empathy and understanding. She brings those qualities to her music.

Robert Titterton, Chairman of the Sydney Omega Ensemble.

Variety cellist Sarah Jessica Maer, or Sally Maer as she is more commonly known in Oz, has an affinity with the passionate music she plays. From Bach to Bocelli, rock to classical, Abba to opera, her performances encompass an eclectic mix of exquisite music spanning three centuries, as well as stories from her travels through life as a musician. She has the virtuosity of Yo Yo Ma, the stylistic verve of Vanessa Mae and the glamour of a modern day Grace Kelly.

Sarah Jessica has lived a life of diversity. Originally from London, she studied at The Royal Academy of Music where she performed in the presence of Diana Princess of Wales. After graduating with an honours degree presented to her by Lord Yehudi Menhuin, she relocated from England to Australia, and made the transition from being an orchestral musician in various orchestras including the Sydney Symphony, to playing rock music and working on TV shows such as Australian Idol, to then becoming a solo performer and a headline entertainer on a variety of cruise ships including the famous Queen Mary II.

The ABC, inspired by her drive and originality, signed her to their label in 2005. She is now a top selling ABC recording artist appearing on many ABC compilation albums, as well as having an ABC solo album out called ‘Bed of Roses’ and a video clip bearing the same title. Music from the solo album is aired regularly on Classic FM.

Sarah Jessica has performed her solo ‘Cello Diva’ show in all the major concert venues across Australia including the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. It was her deep, lifelong love of the cello, her interest in all types of music, combined with her love of travel, that led Sarah Jessica to become a headline entertainer on cruise ships in 2009.

Sarah Jessica’s kaleidoscope of musical knowledge and life experiences, as well as her warm and effervescent personality, come across in her shows. Her performances are the result of a life led with eyes wide open and a heart full of music.

Upcoming Cello Diva Performances

• 10th Nov 2012, string orchestra for Oliver Dragojevic at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.
• 7th Dec - 14th Dec 2011, Seabourn Cruise Line, Asia
• 21st Dec 2011 - 5th Jan 2012, Olsen Cruise Line, Canary Islands
• 5th Jan - 16th Jan 2012, Olsen Cruise Line, Caribbean
• Late Jan/early Feb 2012, recording
• 6th - 23rd Feb 2012, Olsen Cruise Line, Caribbean
• 1st March - 20th March 2012, Olsen Cruise Line, Australia
• 10th May - 19th May 2012, Olsen Cruise Line, Norway
• 19th May - 3rd June 2012, Olsen Cruise Line, Mediterranean
• 4th June - 10th June 2012, Azamara Quest, Italy
• 14th June - 27th June 2012, Olsen Cruise Line, Norway
• 15th July - 21st July 2012, Azamara Quest, Mediterranean
• 22nd July - 7th August 2012, Olsen Cruise Line, Greenland
• 12th August - 23rd August 2012, Azamara Quest, Italy
• 5th - 21st September 2012, Olsen Cruise Line, Canada
• Canada concerts tba late Sept 2012
• 10th Oct - 23rd Oct 2012, Olsen Cruise Line, Mediterranean
• 8th Nov - 22nd Nov 2012, Olsen Cruise Line, Atlantic Islands
• 22nd Nov - 4th Dec 2012, Olsen Cruise Line, Baltic
• 10th Dec - 19th Dec 2012, Olsen Cruise Line, Europe
• 19th Dec 2012 - 6th Jan 2013, Olsen Cruise Line, Cape Verde
• 9th Jan 2013, Cello Diva Classical Concert @ 1230pm St Nicholas' Parish Church, Brighton, UK
• 20th July 2013, Cello Diva Concert accompanied by the JERSEY POPS ORCHESTRA, New Jersey, USA.

Past Cello Diva Performances

• Cello Diva performed all over the planet on the following Cruise Lines for 2011: Azamara, Holland America, SAGA, Fred Olsen, Cunard, Silver Sea and Seabourn.
• "Amici" Support Act performances at Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, Melbourne Hamer Hall, Newcastle Civic Theatre, Adelaide Festival Theatre, Canberra Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre Concert Hall
• Headline Show at The Famous Spiegeltent, Melbourne International Arts Festival
• His Majesty's Theatre Lunchtime Concert, Perth
• Sunset at Subi show, Perth
• Classic FM performance on the "Just Classics" show hosted by Damien Beaumont
• Cruise Ship Headline Performer on luxury Cruise Ships including the Queen Mary II
• Sydney World AIDS Day Concert, Sydney Conservatorium
• Live Radio Performances on ABC: James Valentine's Show, ABC Canberra, Richard Stubbs' Melbourne show
• Sally's recording of Spiegel im Spiegel was used as the soundtrack to the ABC TV documentary on surfing, "Bombora".

Other Interesting Stuff...

• For Anzac Day 2005, Sally was invited to play in the Peter Sculthorpe String Quartet for a televised performance to a 20,000 people strong crowd at the Dawn Service at Anzac Cove in Gallipoli. It was the 90th Anniversary commemorations of the Australian Landing at Galliopli during WW1.
• Cello Diva is regularly featured on the Qantas inflight entertainment, so plug in your earphones next time you're flying!
• Acoustic duo performance with Ian Moss at the 'APRA' Awards
• Delta Goodrem's Australian Tour cellist
• Tommy Lee Jones' quartet cellist during the Rockstar Supernova Tour
• Cellist for Australian Idol and the X factor
• Sydney Symphony free lance cellist
• Kanye West's string section cellist
• Cellist in the orchestra for the Australian "Boy From Oz" staring Hugh Jackman
• Orchestral cellist for Bocelli's Australian Tour
• Australian Breakfast TV cellist accompanying Tim Freedman, Anthony Callea, Mark Vincent, Tina Arena
• Cellist for the Human Nature DVD with orchestra
• Orchestral recording session musician for the movie soundtrack of Baz Luhrmann's "Australia"

Bed of Roses

Having played in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonia Australis and also with Anthony Callea and toured with Amici Forever, Sally has now released her debut album. This CD is a fantastic combination of great classical tunes as well as pop songs arranged for cello, played with the inimitable Cello Diva style that the world is about to discover.

 

[ See back of CD for track list ]

Other Albums featuring Cello Diva