Noteworthy

Lucia Ticho’s connection to the cello isn’t just musical—it’s almost like a relationship. “You know how you have a type in a romantic partner? What’s your type in a cello?” she muses while describing her deep bond with the instrument. Lucia has always loved the cello, ever since she started playing it at the tender age of 2. Born into a family of musicians—her older brother played the violin, and her parents the violin and viola—Lucia was given the cello to complete her family’s string quartet.

Lucia’s early musical training through the Suzuki method shaped her unique approach to the cello. Learning by ear before reading sheet music, she developed a physical connection with the instrument. “I didn’t see music as a visual or intellectual thing,” she explains. “It was just a craft that I put my body into.” This tactile relationship has only deepened over the years, especially with her prized instrument—a 1930 Italian cello made by Gaetano Gadda, an apprentice of the renowned luthier Stefano Scarampella.

Describing the sound she seeks, Lucia says, “The only analogy I have would be like frosted glass. I want something with texture, but also with clarity and a little bit of nuance.” Her cello delivers just that, with a bright, powerful projection that has accompanied her through countless performances, including one of the Dutilleux concerto, Tout un monde lointain..., with Rice University’s Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra—a personal highlight of her career.

Hear more about Lucia’s connection with her cello and journey as a musician in our latest installment of Meet the Orchestra.