DANIEL LELCHUK

"...a dazzling virtuoso"

— The Washington Post

Daniel Lelchuk is renowned worldwide as both a cellist and a communicator. His performances have graced numerous international festivals, including those in Aspen, Baden-Baden, Hawaii, Colorado, the Minnesota Lakes Area, Silicon Valley, and Salzburg. He has appeared as guest cellist with the Qatar Philharmonic, guest principal cellist of the Orquesta Filarmónica de Jalisco, cellist with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería (Mexico City), and principal cellist of the Royal Opera House Muscat (Oman). For a decade, Lelchuk served as Associate Principal Cellist of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the New Orleans Opera Association, appointed by Music Director Carlos Miguel Prieto. At the invitation of Prince Nicolò Boncompagni Ludovisi, he presented a celebrated series of solo cello recitals at the historic Villa Aurora in Rome.

From 2010 to 2014, Lelchuk served as principal cellist of the Castleton Festival under Maestro Lorin Maazel, performing major solos from the operatic and symphonic repertoire, notably Verdi's Otello, to critical acclaim. Since 2016, he has been principal cellist of the New York-based Salomé Chamber Orchestra, regularly touring internationally with violinist David Aaron Carpenter and the ensemble. He also appears as cellist of the Aegis Trio with violinist Daniel Kurganov and pianist Constantine Finehouse.

For the past decade, Lelchuk has immersed himself in the world of fine stringed instruments and bows, serving as a fine instrument consultant for Carriage House Violins in Boston. Passionate about matching musicians with their ideal instruments, he has facilitated connections involving exceptional examples by revered makers such as Stradivari, Grancino, and Postiglione, as well as master bow makers including Tourte and Sartory.

Also an accomplished administrator, Lelchuk founded the Festival de Música de Cámara Antigua (Antigua Chamber Music Festival) in 2023, establishing the first major chamber music festival in Guatemala. As Artistic Director, he brings world-class musicians to the historic city of Antigua each winter, presenting acclaimed chamber concerts.

Lelchuk is a founding member, alongside violinist Eric Silberger, of the Castleton Chamber Players. They present chamber music concerts in the "jewel box" Theatre House designed and built by Maestro Maazel, frequently collaborating with distinguished artists like Orion Weiss, Michelle DeYoung, and Paul Groves.

Committed to the future of music education, Lelchuk developed the cello curriculum for tonebase, the premier online music education platform, where he served as Head of Cello Content. Beyond designing the platform's cello content, he hosted regular worldwide livestreams and cultivated an online community connecting thousands of diverse and passionate cellists globally.

A respected voice on cultural matters, Lelchuk's writing has appeared in major publications such as The Bulwark (where he is a contributing writer), Quillette, and The Forward. Whether championing the accessibility of classical music or introducing readers to specific works by composers like Puccini, his articles engage a broad audience, from casual listeners to dedicated aficionados.

Beyond his concert activities, Daniel Lelchuk is a prominent voice in broadcasting. He was a popular and frequent guest host of The Food Show on WWL Radio, interviewing celebrity chefs and engaging with callers nationwide live on-air. He is the creator and host of the popular podcast Talking Beats with Daniel Lelchuk, heard in over seventy countries, which features spirited, in-depth conversations with leading global thinkers and cultural figures. His guests have included Walter Isaacson, Linda Ronstadt, Ambassador Michael McFaul, Mike Espy, Nicholas Christakis, General H.R. McMaster, Michael Walzer, John McWhorter, David Frum, Jacques Pépin, Petula Clark, Moshe Safdie, Amy Tan, Richard Haass, and Wynonna Judd.

On WWNO New Orleans public radio, Lelchuk created the LPO Radio Hour. In this weekly program, he guides listeners through curated selections of orchestral, chamber, and operatic music, offering insightful commentary, behind-the-scenes perspectives on concert life, and context designed to make the music welcoming to all listeners.

An avid road cyclist, Daniel Lelchuk spends as much time as he can on two wheels.