About

Michigan-based Andrew Gagiu enjoys a multi-faceted career as a freelance cellist and pedagogue. Originally from Seattle, WA, Andrew has performed in many ensembles across the U.S. He is currently active with the Traverse City Philharmonic, Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, and Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra as a Section Cellist. Mr. Gagiu has also appeared with orchestras including the Grand Rapids Symphony, Rockford Symphony Orchestra, Peoria Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia da Camera, Holland Symphony Orchestra, Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra, Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, Elkhart County Symphony Orchestra (Guest Principal Cellist), and Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he has collaborated with the esteemed contemporary ensembles Birds On A Wire and Foot In The Door, most recently performing Michael Torke's Telephone Book with Hartt Dances. Andrew's performing experience also expands to weddings and commercial music, collaborating with KalHaven Strings (including Candlelight Concerts by Fever), Vine Street Ensemble, Modern Strings, and Golden Scroll Soloists. Mr. Gagiu has also enjoyed playing in pit theater orchestras with companies including Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Barn Theater, and Kalamazoo Civic Theatre in productions including Frozen, Freaky Friday, Matilda, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. 

Andrew's teaching experience stretches across the Suzuki Method and El Sistema in private lessons, group classes, and string rehearsals. Andrew has served as Cello Instructor and coached with YMI Suzuki School of Music, Illinois Community Music Academy, Kalamazoo Kids In Tune, New Old School of Music, Music School at Sound Crossing, Gull Lake Virtual Partnership, and Vivace! Chamber Players. Mr. Gagiu has also maintained an active private studio since 2015 and teaches individual cello lessons out of his home studio and across various middle and high schools across the Kent County School District (Grand Rapids, MI). He is trained in Suzuki Cello Books 1-8 and is an active member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) and the American String Teachers Association (ASTA).

Andrew has participated in rigorous summer festivals throughout the country and has performed in various competitions. Most recently, he participated in and served as a Counselor at Aria International Summer Academy. Other festivals of note include Ascent International Cello Festival (previously Cincinnati Young Artists Cello Academy), Marrowstone Music Festival Fellowship Division, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, and Rocky Ridge Music Festival Young Artist Seminar. Andrew has also competed as a Finalist in the Western Michigan University Concerto Competition, MTNA Michigan Young Artist String Competition, and Southern Adventist University Concerto Competition.

Mr. Gagiu currently studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a Graduate Assistantship toward a Doctor of Musical Arts degree. Mr. Gagiu earned a Master of Music in Cello Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy from The Hartt School, presenting the Suzuki Lecture Recital, "Left-Hand Mobility & Underheard Composers." He also holds a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from Western Michigan University. Andrew has participated in masterclasses under esteemed pedagogues such as Hans Jørgen Jensen, Alan Harris, Amit Peled, Melissa Kraut, Darrett Adkins, and Norman Fischer. His major teachers include Daniel McDonough, Mihai Tetel, Bruce Uchimura, Lara Turner, and Mary Walters. His Suzuki mentors include Blake Brasch and Andrea Yun. 

In his free time, Andrew enjoys playing pickleball and disc golf, spending time with his incredible wife, Teresa Strobel-Gagiu, and their tripod cat, Kelce, and aggressively rooting for the Mariners and the Seahawks.

Mr. Gagiu plays on a 2018 Gary Garavaglia cello, Guarneri model.