Diliana Momtchilova, cello, is active as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, and teacher.  She presently serves as the Acting Assistant Principal Cello of the Seattle Symphony and Principal and Associate Principal Cello of the Seattle Opera.  Before coming to Seattle in 2010 she was a Professor of Cello and Chamber Music at the Mannes College of Music, Extension Division, and cellist of the celebrated piano trio Alaria.  She holds Master's and Doctoral degrees from the Juillard School, which she attended on full scholarship under the tutelage of Harvey Shapiro and Zara Nelsova. Chief among her numerous awards and honors are top prize at the Washington International Competition and winner of the Juilliard School's Haydn D Major Cello Concerto Competition.