Nomin Zolzaya*

Nomin Zolzaya was born in Tsetserleg, Arkhangai, Mongolia. At age six, she was enrolled in the Music and Dance College to study cello, piano, and academics. She studied cello there with Dariimaa H. and graduated with highest honors in 2010. Nomin competed in the Mongolian International Music Competition in both 2005 and 2008, where she took fourth and second prizes, respectively. In 2008, she also competed in the International Heran Violoncello Competition in Usti-nad-Orlicí (Czech Republic), where she took fourth prize. She came to the States in 2010 and studied with Ken Kulosa. During that time, she was a prize winner in the second annual Rising Star Concerto Competition, held at Southeast Missouri State University. Her string quartet, the Camerton String Quartet, was the Open Division Overall Winner of the 2012 Discover National Chamber Music Competition. After Winning the Competition, The Camerton Quartet featured on “From the Top” radio broadcast on National Public Radio. In the fall of 2012, she pursued a Performer’s Diploma at Southern Methodist University, where she studied with Andrés Díaz. After finishing her Performer’s Diploma, she went to Eastman School of Music for her Bachelor's Degree in 2014 where she studied with Steven Doane and Rosemary Elliot. In the summer of 2017, she moved to Chicago to pursue her studies for a Master's Degree with Brant Taylor at the DePaul School of Music. During her studies she was a member of Civic Orchestra of Chicago. In 2019, Nomin won the Principal Cello position in the Illinois Symphony. Currently she’s growing her private studio and lives with her husband and two siberian cats in Evanston Il.