Sam Lucas

Australian Hometown: Sunshine Coast
Education: Robert Schumann University, Dusseldorf

PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY
Australian born cellist Sam Lucas has distinguished himself internationally as an outstanding and talented cellist since moving to Europe in 2017.

From his base in Dusseldorf he continues studies and has begun to establish himself as a chamber and concert musician, equally at home with concerto repertory as well as the great works for smaller ensembles.

Since 2017 he has been a student of Professor Pieter Wispelwey at the Robert Schumann University, Dusseldorf. During his formative years Sam studied with the principal cellist of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and was invited to attend master classes with David Geringas, Pieter Wispelwey and Li Wei Qin as a ‘guest young soloist’ (aged 15) at the Adelaide International Cello Festival.

During these early years Sam toured widely across Australia and Bulgaria with pianist Evgeny Genchev, culminating in recitals at the Palace of Culture and National Music School in Sofia. He later appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and at St Martin in the Fields, London. In 2015 was invited to perform for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

He made his Wigmore Hall debut in 2016. In recent seasons he has performed with the University of Bonn Symphony Orchestra, Robert Schumann University Symphony Orchestra and the Oberbergischen Kreises Symphony Orchestra.

In 2018 Sam was awarded first prize at the Sieghardt-Rometsch Competition, first prize in the 2019 Pro Artists International Music Competition, second prize at the Gisborne International Music Competition and the gold medal at the Vienna International Music Competition. He won first prize at the 2020 Anton Rubinstein International Cello Competition and first prize at the Gustav Mahler International Cello Competition 2021.

For upcoming concerts for the 2021 and 2022 seasons Lucas has concerto engagements with Uniorchester Bonn Camerata, Hagen Philharmonic Orchestra, Ruhrstadt Symphony Orchestra and Cologne Sinfonietta and chamber ensemble concerts at the Concert Society Gevelsberg, Beethoven House in Bonn and for the NRW concert series.

Sam plays on a Rainer Beilharz cello 2008 and a Nicolo Gagliano cello 17XX.

Last updated 2022