Lisandro Acosta, cello

Lisandro (Lichi) Acosta, recent recipient of the Ellen Rolfes Legacy Fellowship at the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, is an accomplished cellist and student under the guidance of Dr. Kimberly Patterson at the University of Memphis. He holds a master’s degree from the University of Arizona and a bachelor’s degree from the McDuffie Center for Strings.

Lichi has performed all around Argentina, Brazil and the US and worked with prestigious musicians like Marin Alsop, Daniel Barenboim, Giancarlo Guerrero and members of the James Ehnes and Cavani string quartets among others.

Beyond performance, Lichi is deeply passionate about music pedagogy and community engagement. As a teaching assistant at the University of Arizona he received the Distinguished master’s Candidate award for his commitment to excellence in education and his noteworthy contributions to the Tucson public school district and Arizona String Project.

Lichi has won awards in various competitions including the University of Arizona Solo String Competition, Mozarteum’s Young Artist Competition, and Teatro Colon’s Orchestra. Yet, his interests extend beyond music; he's a two-time member of the Argentinian Math Olympic team, showcasing his prowess in the arts and sciences.

Lichi’s former teachers include Leo Viola, Hans Jensen, Julie Albers, Richard Aaron and Theodore Buchholz.

When he's not playing music, Lichi enjoys cooking, playing speed chess, and watching nature documentaries.