Sofia Hernandez-Williams has played cello for more than half of her 12 years. And now, for the second year in a row, the Holden resident is a semifinalist in a prestigious national competition for classical string musicians.
She’ll compete Thursday as the youngest of nine youth semifinalists in the Sphinx Competition in Detroit. The Sphinx Organization works to increase representation of Black and Latino string musicians in classical music.
Sofia studies at the Joy of Music Program in Worcester and Project Step in Boston.
And everywhere she goes, including to the WBUR studios, she brings along her “stuffy” — a stuffed rabbit named Caitriona (pronounced like Katrina).
“She’s kind of like my little companion,” Sofia said.
When she isn’t playing cello, Sofia said, she enjoys reading and math. She writes poetry. She loves her real pet rabbit and her cat. And she takes care of her collection of little house plants.
When it comes to her music, she takes after her parents, who are both string musicians. Sofia spoke with WBUR’s All Things Considered host Lisa Mullins about her musical journey.
Interview Highlights
On whether playing cello came easily for her:
“Well, you definitely have to work at improving it. … It requires practicing every day, and the consistency is key. And, I mean, when I very first started, I definitely didn’t practice every day. But once I kind of started getting into it, then that’s kind of what keeps you going. It’s like a routine.”
On how it first took hold as something she loved:
“Once you work on something or you get better at doing that something, or you hear a piece that you really like, you think it’s super cool and you just want to, like, play it again and see that you can do it again.”
On what she’s feeling or thinking about when she plays:
“I guess I would say that I was just thinking about really getting into the music and trying not to think about anything else except for the music, because that’s what really gets you into the mood and understanding the performance of it. And it’s like you have a passion for it.”
On the cadenza she composed to go with a Haydn concerto, which she’ll perform in the competition:
“A cadenza is kind of a part of a piece, usually in a concerto, where the soloist plays this part on their own that usually they have written or that was written by someone else — but that’s not [written by] the composer of the actual piece.
“You try to incorporate the different themes of the concerto and definitely write it in the key and then have some key changes to different minor and major modes, but then come back to the same key.”
Sofia Hernandez-Williams at a rehearsal for a concert with Project Step and Emmanuel Music in Boston in December 2024. (Sydney Ko/WBUR)
On whether she gets nervous before performing in a concert or competition:
“One thing I notice is that oftentimes, if I think about my performance more and envision myself being there and being on the stage, I feel more nervous beforehand but less nervous when I’m actually doing it, which sometimes is a little counterintuitive. I find that if I try to not think about it and try to push it away … then it makes it worse when you’re actually there.”
On winning or not winning a competition:
“Well, in a way, I think I would be satisfied no matter what the outcome is, as long as I know that I did what I came there to do and that it was a good experience and learning process throughout the whole of it. And of course you’re always playing to win, but if you don’t, you’ll still be glad that you did your best.
“But also, it’s important to just think about enjoying everything that you do and that if you don’t have fun doing it, like in the slightest, then it’s not really worth it.”
On the most fun parts of playing the cello and performing:
“It’s so intricate and complex, and there’s so many things that you can improve upon, and it’s going to be an infinite journey forever.
“And it’s never going to be perfect, but it’s always that ‘you can always get better’ kind of feeling, you know?”
This segment aired on January 21, 2026.
