Jeffrey Lastrapes, cello
Cellist Jeffrey Noel Lastrapes is an active soloist, chamber musician and teacher having performed and taught in Europe, South America, Asia, and in every region of the US. He holds degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music and the Juilliard School where he studied with Orlando Cole and Harvey Shapiro respectively.
In 2009, Mr. Lastrapes gave his New York Debut at Merkin Hall to critical acclaim.
"An excellent cellist with consummate technical mastery, Lastrapes is a seasoned performer whose strong, outgoing personality lets him shape the music on a big canvas with bold colors and contours." Edith Eisler New York Concert Review.
He has recorded for New World Records and Centaur Records. In 2020, Mr. Lastrapes released a video production of the Complete Suites for Solo Cello by JS Bach. Recordings of sonatas by Rachmaninoff and Chopin, and Duos for violin and cello by Ravel and Kodaly, both on Centaur, have also recently been released as well as his print edition of the Six Suites for Solo Cello by Bach (BCMP Ltd).
Mr. Lastrapes is a past recipient of the Texas Tech Alumni Association “New Faculty Award” and in 2017 was honored to be the August commencement speaker. He shared his journey as a visually impaired musician.
Mr. Lastrapes has participated in major summer festivals around the world including the Evian, Hot Springs, Peninsula (WI), Bay View (MI), and Bellingham (WA) and concert series such as BachFest in Cochabamba, Bolivia, Bach in Buffalo, sponsored by the Buffalo Philharmonic (NY), FebruaryFest, (WI) and Music at the Russell House (CT), among many others.
He is currently Professor of Cello at Texas Tech University and has been on the faculty of the Interlochen Arts Camp since 1996. In 2019, he co-founded the Montenegro Cello Festival and Course which takes place during June each year in Podgorica, Montenegro and the surrounding cities.
Mr. Lastrapes performs on a Francesco Ruggieri cello dated 1684 and a Paul Schuback cello dated 1987.
View: The Bach Cello Suites on YouTube
Website: www.JeffreyLastrapes.com