Denise Hernández is a Cuban cellist, renowned for her versatile interpretations, solid technique, and artistic sensitivity, both within the classical tradition and in contemporary and Latin American expressions.

Born in Havana, Denise began her musical studies at the age of seven at the Paulita Concepción Elementary School of Music. Early on, she demonstrated outstanding talent, winning several national cello competitions, including First Prize at the Amadeo Roldán Competitions in 2008, 2010, and 2012. She later continued her studies at the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory, joining the prestigious Música Eterna Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Guido López-Gavilán, with which she performed extensively both in Cuba and internationally, also appearing as a soloist.

In 2011, Denise began her higher education at the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) in Havana, graduating in 2015 with a Golden Diploma. During her studies, she became a member of the Havana Lyceum Orchestra led by Maestro José Antonio Méndez, performing on important international stages such as the Mozart Festival in Salzburg, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and in cities across Germany, Austria, Mexico, and the United States. With this orchestra, she also participated in the “Mozart y Mambo” project with Sarah Willis, horn player of the Berlin Philharmonic, performing at major venues such as the Rheingau Musik Festival and the Berlin Philharmonie.

She was also a member of the Havana Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Daiana García, collaborating with renowned artists such as Joshua Bell, Leo Brouwer, Chucho Valdés, Fito Páez, Dave Matthews, and Iván Lins, among others. In 2016, she was invited to join the Balthasar-Neumann-Chor und Ensemble under Maestro Thomas Hengelbrock for a European tour.

In parallel, Denise joined the Caribe Nostrum String Quartet, where she explored both classical and specially arranged Cuban and Latin music repertoires, performing at major international festivals such as the Rheingau Musik Festival and the Attergauer Kultursommer in Austria. The quartet was also invited to the Artes de Cuba Festival at the Kennedy Center.

Her discographic work includes collaborations with iconic Cuban artists such as Silvio Rodríguez, Raúl Paz, Polito Ibáñez, Harold López-Nussa, Aldo López-Gavilán, Yasek Manzano, and Santiago Feliú. A particularly notable project is her participation in the recording of “Amad a la Dama” by the young, award-winning composer Jorge Amado, with the piece largely dedicated to her performance. She also appeared in the music video “Luz y Esperanza” by Samuel Formell, leader of Los Van Van, a project dedicated to honoring the victims and the resilience of the Cuban people during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Alongside her performance career, Denise has been a dedicated teacher, having taught at the Vocational School of Arts in Pinar del Río and later at the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) in Havana. She now lives in Minnesota, where she teaches cello at the St. Joseph School of Music in St. Paul, focusing on developing her students’ technique, musicality, and artistic expression.

Denise is an active member of the Havana Quartet, a project that continues to explore and celebrate the richness of the classical and contemporary repertoire.