Principal Hunkins, Nella Nella Hunkins is from New York and has been Principal Cellist with the SSO since March 2001. She comes from a family of professional musicians (all Juilliard School of Music graduates). She began her studies at an early age with Leonard Rose and later completed her bachelor and Masters degree at Indiana University with Janos Starker. In 1968 she received a Fulbright scholarship to study at the Paris Conservatory. Her first major appointment was Assoc Principal Cellist with Cleveland Orchestra in 1973. Family and musical activities brought her to Berlin where her husband plays the horn in the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Engagements include solo performances with the orchestra, chamber concerts and recordings as well as membership on university facilities. She is heard on DENON recordings with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and has taught at the Cleveland Institute, Oberlin Conservatory (1971-78) and Berlin Hochschule der Kunsle (1980-86). Ms Hunkins enjoys painting: 'We had so much space on the walls in our Berlin apartment, I decided to do my own works!' Other hobbies include cooking and swimming. Back to musician list