YVETTE CORNELIA HOLZWARTH
Yvette is a musician of rare versatility who builds soundscapes where genres dissolve. Based in Los Angeles, she has established herself as a "hybrid" artist—equally at home in orchestral string sections, experimental theater productions, improvisational world music ensembles, as well as her own original work.
Her career is defined by this large dynamic range. Yvette has performed and recorded with legends and pop icons including Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Ariana Grande, Kamasi Washington, Van Dyke Parks, and The Backstreet Boys. Yet, her artistry is most distinct in her cross-cultural collaborations. As a duo partner to guitarist Miroslav Tadić, she explores the intersection of Balkan folklore and Americana; their debut album LUKA (Croatia Records) was praised by critics as a "magical musical fabric" woven by two world-class musicians.
A dedicated advocate for new music, Yvette is a founding member of the Desert Quill Quartet and the chamber collective Bridge to Everywhere, an ensemble known for its celebration of cultural diversity.
Beyond the concert hall, Yvette thrives in interdisciplinary storytelling. She is a frequent collaborator with the immersive theater company Four Larks, bringing her dual talents as a violinist and vocalist to the stage. Her theatrical credits include the site-specific katabasis at the Getty Villa and the "thrillingly realized" ( LA Times ) production of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at The Wallis Center.
Under her solo moniker Yvette Cornelia, she releases original music that bridges the gap between chamber-folk and art-pop, most notably on her full-length album What Lies Ahead. Yvette’s creative practice also extends to education and community. Inspired by her heritage, she wrote and illustrated the children’s book The Chinese Zoodiac Band, creating an accessible entry point for children to learn Mandarin and musical instruments.
Yvette plays on a Collin-Mézin violin with Thomasthik strings. She holds an M.F.A. from the California Institute of the Arts and currently serves on the faculty at Mount Saint Mary's University.
