Cello with James Luke K.

Luke K. (BM and MM in Cello Performance at the Boston Conservatory on full scholarship), regularly performs both chamber and solo recitals in Boston, New York City, Canada and Western Europe. Mr. K. has attended numerous music festivals around the world including the Heifetz International Music Festival, Meadowmount School of Music, Salem New Music Festival and the Casalmaggiore International Music Festival in Italy. Major competitions won include 3rd Prize at the ICMEC International Chamber Music Competition with his piano trio, the Lumiere Trio and 2nd prize at the Alexander & Buono International Chamber Music Festival with his string duo, Bermont & Krafka. While Mr. K. attended school, he took masterclasses with Colin Carr, Dennis Hopper, Norman Fischer, Aldo Parisot, Ron Leonard, Tim Eddy, Allison Eldridge, and members of the Lions Gate Trio, Triple Helix Trio, and the Lydian Quartet. Mr. K. has performed at some of the biggest music halls in the world including Symphony Hall, Paul Hall at the Juilliard School, Jordan Hall, Monticelli Hall in Italy and the Hatch Shell in Boston. Along with a very active orchestral, chamber and teaching career, Mr. K. donates his time to organizations such as Project Step (a program that helps get inner city children into classical music) and Winsor Music (a program that sets up chamber concerts for nursing homes and homeless shelters). Mr. K. recently finished up a tour of Germany playing assistant-principal with the JSB Ensemble and performing works by Bach in Stuttgart and Eisennach. Luke is the co-founder of the classical music series, Halcyon Chamber Series, a group dedicated to performing classical, tango and jazz chamber works in small, intimate settings around NYC. *** Lesson Details *** My focus is on making you the musician that you want to be. We will discuss and create a curriculum around what you want to be playing and the type of musician that you want to be. Looking forward to meeting you! *** Travel Equipment *** If I go to their home, they need 2 chairs and a stand. *** Specialties *** I've grown up studying with mostly eastern European and Russian teachers, so what is most important to me is that the body is comfortable playing. So many performers play with tension and it leads to tendonitis and all kind of stress related ailments. If the body is collapsed and you are using your weight to create sound, rather then muscles, you can play all day and not feel a thing.