An experienced cellist of solo, chamber, and orchestral music…

Andrew Luchkow lives in Vancouver BC where he teaches private cello lessons, runs the orchestra program at St. Jude School, and performs in and around Metro Vancouver.

Andrew began studying the cello at the age of three in Edmonton, eventually working with instructors Claude Kenneson and Tanya Prochazka and then continuing his studies in Toronto (1996-2000) as well as Austin, TX (2001-2005). He has performed in masterclasses for cellists such as Aldo Parisot, Desmond Hobig, and Hans Jørgen Jensen.

He has earned three cello performance degrees; a Bachelor’s at the University of Toronto studying with Shauna Rolston, as well as a Master’s and Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Texas at Austin studying with Phyllis Young, while also serving as her teaching assistant.   His doctoral treatise is entitled “Elgar Conducting His Cello Concerto: Audio and Documentary Evidence of Style Beyond the Score.”

In between his time in Toronto and Austin, Andrew spent a year performing and teaching in Vancouver.  He later moved back to Vancouver in 2008 with his wife Janelle Ragno, where they continue to perform and teach. 

An active performer, Andrew has played with various orchestras and collaborated with several chamber groups in Metro Vancouver.  

Andrew has also trained extensively as a teacher.  Below is a listing of his teacher training and his teaching experience:

Teacher Training

Suzuki teacher training (1A) with David Evenchick (Edmonton) summer 2000

UT-Austin pedagogy courses: 

     Cello Pedagogy with Phyllis Young (three semesters)

     String Education with Laurie Scott

     Supervised Teaching:  A course created by Robert Duke, the Director of the Center for Music Learning at UT-Austin

UT String Project 2001-2006: A pre-college music school and orchestra program run by UT-Austin students

Kodaly Certification with Philip Tacka, Michael Houlahan, and Lamar Robertson at Texas State University (San Marcos, TX) summers 2006-2008.

Teaching Experience

Private Lessons:  Home studio 2005-present,  Amati String Studio (now called Arbutus Music Academy) 2000-2001, Delta Community Music School 2000-2001, UT-Austin teaching assistant (cello lessons for non-performance majors), UT String Project 2001-2006, Orpheus Academy of Music (Austin) 2005-2008, Richmond Music School 2008-2010, St. James Music Academy 2009-2011.

Chamber Music Coach:  Coast music camp (Sechelt, BC) summer 2000, Amati String Studio 2000-2001, NW Hills Chamber Music Camp (Austin) summer 2006, Orpheus Academy of Music (Austin) 2006-2008, St. James Music Academy 2011-2013.

Kodaly (music literacy) Classes:  Orpheus Academy of Music (Austin) 2006-2008, St. James Music Academy 2011-2013.

Orchestra Director:  Amati String Studio chamber orchestra 2000–2001, UT String Project 2002-2003, St. Jude School junior and senior orchestras 2008-present, Newbie Adult Chamber Orchestra (substitute) 2018-present.