Click on any image to view in a slideshow.
Please see links to download photos, biographies and repertoire at the bottom of the page.

CURRENT REPERTOIRE SUGGESTIONS
*Canadian works

The complete Bach Suites for Unaccompanied Violoncello, in two or three concerts.

Full length recitals

STORIES IN SOUND
Janacek Pohadkha
*Kevin Lau Starsail
Poulenc Sonata
Piazzolla Le Grand Tango

THE DUO
Beethoven Sonata in g minor
*Abigail Richardson-Schulte Crossings OR *William Rowson Sonata
Debussy Sonata
Brahms Sonata in e minor

SOUNDS OF THE 20th CENTURY
Debussy Sonata
Barber Sonata
*Gary Kulesha ...and dark time flowed by her like a river...
Rachmaninoff Sonata

Hour long recitals

STORIES IN COLOUR
Debussy Sonata
Dvorak Silent Woods
Janacek Pohadkha
*Nerenberg I Thirst
Liszt Short Pieces
Piazzolla Le Grand Tango

DARKNESS AND MYSTERY
Barber Sonata
Rachmaninoff Sonata

RUSSIA IN THE 20th CENTURY
Prokofiev Sonata
Shostakovich Sonata

THE DUO
Beethoven Sonata in g minor
Brahms Sonata in e minor

THE CHARMING CELLO
Short selections for cello and piano, including Kreisler, Tchaikovsky, Bloch, Liszt, Elgar, Saint-Saens, Faure, Kapustin, Dvorak, Rachmaninov and Piazzolla

For complete repertoire, please see document to download at the bottom of the page.

QUOTES

“Two talented and critically loved soloists teamed up for a Music Toronto recital at Jane Mallett Theatre on Thursday night. Both are technically flawless, artistically sensitive musicians in their own right. Both are avid collaborators in chamber ensembles...Mercer and [Minsoo] Sohn were perfectly matched in timing and a deeply elegant sense of musical phrasing...Mercer sounded silky in quiet passages...Mercer was there, carving out her notes with as much attention as the pianist...there were moments of pure magic...”

John Terauds – The Toronto Star

“Mercer strikes me as a very pure type of chamber musician. Her reading of many passages was quite personal, but did not assert the player's will as a distinct force working upon the music. She gave herself in perfect service to whatever she made of the score, and never once resorted to a grand gesture to get our attention.”    

Robert Everett-Green – The Globe and Mail

“Rachel Mercer...brings a clear and always intelligent focus to the depths.”

Peter Grahame Woolf – Musical Pointers

“I am just now listening to the unedited recording of the latest Haydn concert, and I just want to say - THANKS! This is just wonderful, wonderful playing and the sympathy with and insight into the music is evident throughout. It just makes one feel really happy ... what a great guy Haydn was! Also the recording is just superlative! Looking forward to the rest of them!”

Jan Narveson – Artistic Director of the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Society

“Rachel and Akemi's performance was amazing. My workmates and I had a great time.  Rachel was really kind and gave us a special shout out!  I loved the idea of seeing the performance in a small space, it felt like we could reach out and touch the music.  People on the sidewalk would also stop to hear Rachel and Akemi perform.  They were simply amazing.  Thank you so much for introducing me to Rachel.”

new audience member– after a Mercer Duo performance at Dave's Gourmet Pizza

“I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your concert on Thursday. My daughter Emma, who just turned 12 yesterday, demanded that I show her the music for the Vocalise. It was the most beautiful performance that I can remember, and she was totally inspired.”

Mary Fisher – fellow cellist