Meet Ismael Guerrero Bombut | Cellist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ismael Guerrero Bombut and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ismael, how do you think about risk?
Risks are important. You must take risks in order to move up the ladder. Staying in your comfort zone will not get you anywhere other than staying where you are. Now, do not get me wrong – it is okay for you not to take risks and always play it safe. But do not expect to get to the next level with that mindset. I have taken many risks in my life. I took the risk of leaving my family and my country in search of a better education that ultimately led to better opportunities. Knowing only very basic English, I came to the United States to study at college level. Sure, you could say that I could have stayed at home with my family, and still have a somewhat fulfilling life. However, I can also assure you that things would have gone much differently for us, and not necessarily for the better.
There have also been moments in my life when I have stayed in my comfort zone. Although I regret some of them, I am glad they have taught me about the importance of taking risks in general.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I am a cellist, a musician, and above all, an artist. I love connecting to an audience through music, spoken words, humor and all kinds of possible ways. If you look at my social media, I do not necessarily share content about how many concerts I have played for the past two months, but rather about what I go through every day in the practice rooms/rehearsals. My content shows “behind the scenes” footage of a musician’s life. Everyone always loves to see the result, but very few, if anyone, know what it takes to achieve it. For me, it is all about the journey and how you work to set yourself up to be in a better place tomorrow than you are today. That is what I want to share with my audience.
I am currently a Resident Fellow at the Los Angeles Philharmonic. This fellowship gives me a taste of what it feels to be a member of the orchestra, from which I am learning a lot. Teaching at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music and Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) also keeps me busy. To say that I am blessed would be an understatement; I have been incredibly fortunate to be able to work with some of the most amazing artists you can find not only in the United States but in the world, and I am eternally grateful for that. I feel inspired every day to work harder and harder. Ever since I was very young, I wanted to be a musician, and I thank my parents for immediately noticing my love for music and feeding into my dreams.
Getting to this point has not been easy at all, and I must say that I am nowhere near where I would like to be as an artist. However, I have learned a lot through my journey. If you told me even just a year ago that I would be where I am today, I would not believe you. Focusing on being better every day has helped me through points in my life where I have completely lost my sense of direction. Keep moving forward and you will eventually find your way…the grind don’t stop!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am definitely not the most adventurous person. However, not to be biased, I would tell them to come to Walt Disney Hall and enjoy one of the Los Angeles Philharmonic concerts!

One of my favorite restaurants in the whole city is Oste. It is an Italian restaurant and you cannot go wrong with anything you order from their menu. Therefore, I highly recommend it!

With Los Angeles’ unbeatable weather you should probably go to the beach.

I would also take advantage of all the beautiful museums. One of my favorites is The Getty Villa

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
-My mother, my father and my brother. I owe my life to them. Their unconditional love made me the person that I am today, gives me the courage to take risks and be better every day, and will remain a compass for my entire life.
-All my teachers in Cuba. I will never take for granted the education I received in Cuba. Grateful to each and one of my teachers back home.
– Cecylia Barczyk and the Borowsky Family. I don’t think I would have had even a ray of hope about coming to the United States if it were not because of them.
– My former teacher, Amit Peled, taught me most of the things I know about cello. The risks he took with me are immeasurable, and I am forever grateful for that. He always believed in me, and I just hope to make him prouder every day.
-Dave Roux and Barbara Roux; their generosity allowed me to begin a whole new face in my life that I had never imagined possible.
-My American family, the Woodamans. I have no words to explain the gratitude I have for them, and the love and support they have shown me for so many years.
-Some of my other cello mentors such as Ralph Kirshbaum, Marcy Rosen and Antonio Lysy. Thank you for your guidance and help towards becoming a better cellist and artist.
-All my teachers from Peabody Institute and USC Thornton School of Music. Thank you!
-All my friends and everyone I have crossed paths with. Thank you!

Instagram: @ismacello

Twitter: @ismacello

Youtube: @ismacello

Other: TikTok: @isma_cello