Indian Hill Teen Playing All the Right Notes

By Mary Casey-Sturk

Cincinnati Country Day School sophomore Autumn Rinaldi is making a splash in the local classical music scene. An accomplished cellist, she was the 2024 Jack and Lucille Wonnell Concerto Competition winner in November 2024, a competition held by the Blue Ash Montgomery Symphony Orchestra -a notable achievement acknowledging Autumn is a gifted soloist with a bright career ahead of her and, with this honor, she made her orchestral debut with the Blue Ash Montgomery Symphony Orchestra this past March performing Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations. In January 2025, she was a prizewinner at the CSYO (Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra) Concerto Competition and was a featured soloist with the CSYO Philharmonic Orchestra at Music Hall on May 11th. 

Born on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Autumn lived there until the age of 9 before her family moved to Indian Hill in 2018. The proximity to the vibrant arts and music that New York City is known for influenced her development as an artist- cello training began at age 5 at a small community studio and she also took jazz improv classes at the Lincoln Center.  Family outings, including Shakespeare in the Park, helped grow Autumn’s love for the arts during this time. Since coming to Indian Hill, this love for the arts remains and grows. 

A New Home in Indian Hill

The Rinaldi family came to Indian Hill to be closer to family and live a slower, more relaxed pace of life. Frank Rinaldi (Autumn’s father) was born and raised in Terrace Park and his parents, Anne and Vince Rinaldi, live in Indian Hill. 

Autumn’s mom, Megumi Rinaldi, shares, “Ever since Autumn was a baby, we would come back here for the summers, and so many of Autumn’s summer memories are around camp at Meshewa at Turner Farm, riding horses, collecting eggs from the neighbors’ coup and running around with all of her cousins.” Megumi continues, “Although we sometimes miss the energy of New York City, Autumn loves being near her family for all their love and support, and she loves being so close to nature here in Indian Hill.”

Continuing, “The other great thing about being here in Indian Hill, of course, is the thriving arts scene of Cincinnati. Cincinnati has, to our initial surprise, provided Autumn more opportunity to develop than we had imagined. Autumn currently studies privately with Dr. Sarah Kim, Professor of Cello at Miami University, and is also guided/mentored by Mr. Alan Rafferty, Cellist of the CSO and Professor of Cello at CCM. Together, they are providing Autumn with the most elite level of classical music training opportunities that a young musician could ask for.” Adding, “Because of their teaching, she has had the opportunity to attend the Meadowmount School of Music for the past two summers, the prestigious training ground for the most elite classical musicians in the world (including Itzak Perlman, Joshua Bell and Yo-Yo Ma) and has studied with the world-renowned cello pedagogue Hans Jorges Jensen.  The Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra, of which Autumn has been Assistant Principal for the past two years, is the best of its kind and has afforded her solid orchestral training and many opportunities to learn about the professional classical music world.”

Cellist and Composer

Not only is Autumn an accomplished cellist, but she is also a composer. Autumn’s piece, Walk (for violin and percussion), which she composed as a 2024 Fellow with the composition program Cincinnati, From Scratch!, was premiered and recorded by CSO percussionist Joe Bricker and violinist Hannah Christiansen last spring. The contemporary work will be choreographed in the 2025 season by Taylor Carrasco for performance by the Second Company of the Cincinnati Ballet

Other recent accomplishments include Principal Cellist of the 2025 OMEA All-State Orchestra (February 2025) and Principal Cellist of the 2024 OMEA Southwest Regional Orchestra (November 2024), Assistant Principal Cellist of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra (Philharmonic) for the past two years in the Philharmonic, and the 2024 Senior Division Winner of the Jack and Lucille Wonnell Concerto Competition. Additionally, in 2024, she was the Senior Division Winner of the Cleveland Cello Society Scholarship Competition, a statewide competition. This led to Autumn performing Shostakovich Concerto No. 1 Mov 1. in a CelloBello-sponsored event featuring Juilliard Quartet member & Juilliard Professor Astrid Schween, and the Verona Quartet last summer. 

Indian Hill Living spoke with Autumn about life in Indian Hill

“One of my favorite parts about living in Indian Hill is the nature that surrounds me every day here. Living in New York, I lived across the street from Central Park, but there’s something different about being surrounded by forest 24/7 here that even the beautiful fountains and lawns of Central Park can’t compare to. My school campus at Cincinnati Country Day is surrounded by beautiful trees and trails, and during my free days, I’m able to study outside. When I’m home, I can sometimes look out my window and watch deer graze in my backyard. It’s calming and keeps me sane when I’m stressed. “

Autumn adds, “I mention this because my composition, Walk, was inspired by the nature of Indian Hill. At the very end of the piece, the violin and percussion begin a calm, almost contemplative section. This part was inspired by the walks I often take in the area, and the sounds I hear, such as a windchime, woodpeckers, and the whistling of the wind. “

As for keeping music in her life, “I want to continue my musical education and go into music, if I can.” 

On other interests, “Outside of music, I enjoy Shakespearian acting. I read Romeo and Juliet in English class a few years ago, but it wasn’t until my teacher showed us a recording of a live theater production of it in class that I truly began to love it. I love the historical backgrounds, the soap opera-like plotlines, and all of the jokes hidden beneath the gnarly vocabulary and grammar. Last fall, I was Hermia in my school’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. My favorite part of acting in Shakespeare productions is that there are no microphones- I have to project my voice to the audience, which adds an extra layer of authenticity to my acting. Shakespeare and Classical music are actually very similar, and I’ve drawn many of my musical interpretations from my experience acting.” Autumn adds, “In my downtime, I enjoy cooking with my family, doing art, and taking pictures outside with my vintage-style camera.” 

Where would you like to visit and why?

“One day, I would really like to visit Montana, specifically Glacier National Park. I’ve only ever seen pictures, but it seems so serene and otherworldly. If I ever went, I would rent a cabin with a nice view and go hiking every day”.  Continuing, “Other places include Italy for the food, Vienna for the architecture, and Wales so I can see all of their castles.”

No doubt, this young artist will see much of the world on her musical journey.