Dr. Ismar Gomes is a dynamic chamber and orchestral musician, passionate pedagogue, and is highly regarded in the field of performance practice. For over a decade, he has captivated audiences across the U.S. as a member of Duo Sorolla, and has frequently collaborated with members of prestigious ensembles like the Pittsburgh Symphony, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the Emerson and Johannes Quartets. He holds several Faculty appointments in cello and chamber music and has given masterclasses nationwide. These diverse performing and teaching endeavors fuel his musical passion, and he aims to inspire audiences and students alike with his distinctive energy and enthusiasm.

A former member of the Virginia and Richmond Symphonies, Dr. Gomes regularly performs with the Baltimore Symphony. As a period instrumentalist, he played baroque and modern cellos for Mélomanie and frequently collaborates with other early music ensembles. Recently having joined the ground-breaking classical ensemble, Valencia Baryton Project, Dr. Gomes will embark on several national tours over the coming seasons as the group continues recording the Haydn Baryton Trios for Naxos. 

In addition to his extensive work as a modern performer in the standard repertoire, Dr. Gomes is a champion of underrepresented works and composers. Over the past two decades, he has collaborated with notable contemporary composers, including George Walker, Aaron Jay Kernis, James Lee III, and David Lang, while commissioning pieces from many other leading and emerging composers. As a recording artist, he was a guest artist with the Harlem Quartet on Canteloupe Music, and recently released two albums with Mélomanie for Meyer Media, as well as projects featuring the works of Larry Nelson, Mark Hagerty, and others.

In his commitment to education, Dr. Gomes proudly serves on the Artist Faculty at the Rushmore Music Festival, where he also holds a position on the Board of Directors. He shares his expertise as a member of the chamber music faculty at the Leon Fleisher Academy and the Peabody Institute, and he teaches at George Mason University and Gettysburg College. His dedication to nurturing young musicians extends to masterclasses at esteemed institutions like Shenandoah Conservatory and Duke University.

Dr. Gomes studied under the guidance of Alison Wells and Amit Peled at the Peabody Conservatory, prior to earning his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Stony Brook University under the tutelage of Colin Carr. Dr. Gomes also studied with  Marc Johnson and Clive Greensmith of the Vermeer and Tokyo Quartets.