luciana gallo

RENO PHIL CELLIST

What year did you join the orchestra?
I officially won a position with RPO in February 2020, although I have been subbing with the orchestra on and off since 2011

How long have you been playing music?
For pretty much as long as I can remember, my mom is a pianist and she was my first music teacher

How did you pick your instrument?
I grew up in Cordoba, Argentina and I immediately fell in love with the cello after listening to Sol Gabetta play live, she is perhaps one of my biggest cello influences

Occupation? 
Cellist at Reno Phil, Cello Instructor at the University of Reno Nevada, Cello Instructor at my private cello school, Pilates Instructor.

When you’re not playing with the Reno Phil, what would we most likely see you doing in your free time?
Besides my love for the cello I’m also a Pilates Instructor, so most likely you’ll see me practicing and teaching Pilates. I also love spending time outdoors and making sourdough bread.

What genre of music are you most excited to play?
Besides Classical music, definitely Tango!

What is your favorite piece of all time to play, and why?
I have many favorites so that’s hard to answer.. Something I’ll never get tired of playing though are the Bach Suites for Unaccompanied Cello. The writing is just superb, it is incredible how many voices and harmonies can resonate from only one instrument! I remember listening to this music as a kid and thinking there were more than one cello playing at the same time.

If you could meet one composer/musician, who would it be and why?
Johann Sebastian Bach! The Cello suites are a bit of a mystery since the original manuscript was lost which leads to questions about some of the markings in the surviving manuscripts. Also I would love to know more about his thoughts of the suites, his intention behind them as well as his thoughts on style.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
One of my favorite vacation spots is actually in Argentina, a place called Cabalango where we used to spend our entire Summers with my family growing up. My family still has a house there so I try visiting once a year or every other year.

What do you think the audience would find surprising about you?
Besides the cello I specialize in Pilates for Musicians. I’m a third generation Pilates instructor, following a lineage directly from Joseph Pilates. My doctoral dissertation was about adapting Pilates to help musicians avoid injuries and incorporating Pilates in the music curriculum at university level.

What about performing live music brings you joy?
That you get to step into an “alternate reality” (at least for a few minutes), and that you get to share the experience with your fellow musicians and the audience.

#SPREADJOY

Meet Reno Phil cellist, Luciana Gallo, and spend a moment enjoying this beautifully hopeful piece of music.