Hometown:
Mooresville, North Carolina
Education:
The Juilliard School Bachelor of Music 2026 (expected)
Bio:
Lucas Caceres began playing the double bass in his eighth grade orchestra class before playing in the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra for two seasons. Starting his junior year, Lucas attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts for high school and studied under Paul Sharpe. Currently, Lucas is attending The Juilliard School, where he is a recipient of the Jerome L. Green Fellowship, and studies under Timothy Cobb.
What inspired you to become a musician?
Ever since I was eight years old, when I got my first guitar for Christmas, the feeling of playing for others was unlike anything else to me and I craved that feeling more and more.
Name your favorite composers and/or pieces:
I really love Mahler, Wagner, and Tchaikovsky. For Mahler, his music is all-encompassing and on a grand scale. For Wagner, the spectacle of his huge operas along with his thematic transformations are terrific. Tchaikovsky composes melodies that really memorable and touching.
What is an interesting fact about you and/or your instrument?
Despite my passion for classical music, I also have a huge appreciation and interest in heavy metal music.
When taking a break from music-making, what is your favorite thing to do?
I like to play video games or board games with my friends.
Why did you choose the NRO?
I chose the NRO primarily because of the specific repertoire being played and how much of it there is. The NRO plays more repertoire than any other festival orchestra, so being able to develop the skill of preparing difficult repertoire in short amounts of time, such as Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique or Strauss Don Juan, will be a skill I will use for the rest of my career. I also like that there is just one orchestra, so across the eight weeks of the festival, I am sure to make long lasting bonds with the people I perform with. Colorado is a state I have never been to and I have never seen the rocky mountains, so it will be amazing to experience what it is like in that part of the United States.