Andrew Luchkow
An experienced performer and teacher, Andrew Luchkow began studying the cello at age 3 in Edmonton, Alberta with Tanya Prochazka and Claude Kenneson. Since then, he has earned his Bachelor of Music at the University of Toronto with Shauna Rolston and his Master and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Cello Performance with world-renowned string pedagogue Phyllis Young. His doctoral treatise is entitled “Elgar Conducting His Cello Concerto: Audio and Documentary Evidence of Style Beyond the Score.” He has performed in masterclasses for Aldo Parisot, Desmond Hobig, Hans Jøorgen Jensen, George Neikrug, and David Ying.
Andrew has been active performing in chamber and orchestral ensembles including the Pagaliacci String Quartet (Edmonton) and Piatti String Quartet (Edmonton), Toronto Sinfonia of Nations, and in the Celebration of Women Composers chamber series (Vancouver). Since moving back to Vancouver in August 2008, he and his wife, Janelle Ragno, have formed the duo Cello Cieli which plays for events and will perform at the In the House Festival in June. He also is the principal cellist for the Richmond Orchestra and Chorus where he holds the Eva Baker Chair. He will perform the Lalo Cello Concerto with the orchestra in March 2010.
An accomplished cello teacher and Kodaly instructor, Andrew has studied pedagogy with such respected pedagogues as Phyllis Young, Laurie Scott and David Duke at the University of Texas. He has also completed full Kodaly certification at Texas State University under Philip Taka, Mícheál Houlahan and Lamar Robertson who (along with Lois Choksy) literally “wrote the books” on the Kodaly concept and is in the process of formally integrating the Kodaly concept into his private cello teaching.
Dr. Luchkow started teaching the cello privately in Edmonton in 1994 and has taught the cello and coached chamber music at Amati String Academy (Vancouver), Delta Community Music School, Coast Music Camp (Sechelt, BC), UT String Project (Austin), Austin Chamber Music Center, Northwest Hills Chamber Music Festival (Austin), at Orpheus Academy of Music (Austin) where he taught Kodaly based ear-training and theory. Now having recently moved back to Vancouver after being away for seven years, he is a private cello teacher in various Vancouver locations, teaches cello at the Richmond Music School, and organizes monthly cello choir gatherings for adult students. Andrew and Janelle both founded and direct a successful string orchestra at St. Jude Catholic School.