Cernabella is a chamber music project formed by violinist Luka and violist Amber, a married couple whose personal and artistic partnership shapes the ensemble’s identity. The name CernaBella emerged after Amber, who had begun studying Serbian, noticed an intriguing linguistic connection between the words for “black” and “white” in Serbian and words meaning “to grow” and “beautiful” in Spanish.

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Several years after the project’s conception, Cernabella continues its musical journey with the goal of exploring the intersection of traditional and contemporary music, both historically and culturally. While much of today’s classical repertoire centers on the established pillars of Western European art music, the duo also highlights a new generation of composers whose voices reflect a broader range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

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As products of immigration, Cernabella explores music that is culturally relevant to the performers, including traditions connected to the Balkans and Eastern Europe, Spain and Latin America, and the African diaspora. Their work aims to create authenticity in performance, foster a strong connection with listeners, and expand the string duo repertoire through the commissioning of new works.