HCCMF Founder Lucas Drew

Written By: Luke Osteen | Issue: 2015/12 - December

The Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival, which enjoys a worldwide reputation, is the product of the passion and remarkable talents of Dr. Lucas Drew. 

Dr. Drew, after a distinguished career of more than 40 years of teaching and performing, retired in 2000 as Professor Emeritus at the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Principal Double Bass Emeritus of the Florida
Philharmonic Orchestra.

As a principal bassist and chamber music collaborator, he has performed with many of the world’s greatest musicians.  As a soloist, he can be heard in more traditional repertoire on two CD samplers (originally by Coronet Recording Company), which were designed primarily for students and the CD “20th Century Sampler
for Double.”

Dr. Drew has premiered a number of 20th Century compositions, including Carlos Surinach’s “Double Concerto for Flute, Bass and Chamber Orchestra” (Centaur) and Jose Serebrier’s Fantasia and Variations – “George and Muriel” (ASV).  He has appeared on the NBC Today Show, BBC TV, NPR, PBS, and with the Contemporary Baroque Trio in concerts in New York, Chicago, Cincinnati and Salzburg. Summer guest faculty/performances include the Brevard Music Center, Dartmouth College, Indiana University, Stetson University, Sarasota Music Festival and workshops throughout the U.S. and in Europe and Latin America.

Dr. Drew is among the artists included in Samuel Applebaum’s “The Way They Play.”  Dr. Drew served as editor for the International Society of Bassists (1974-1982) and as President of the American String Teachers Association from 1982-1984.  His many published editions of music for solo double bass, chamber music and string orchestra are played throughout the world.  He is co-author of the book “About the Symphony Orchestra – A Handbook for Concertgoers.”  

In addition to teaching, Dr. Drew also served at various intervals during his long tenure at the UM Frost School of Music as Founder/Director of the Preparatory Division (which grew to more than 1,000 pre-college students), Artistic Director of the Faculty Chamber Players and as a Department Chairperson. In 2001 Dr. Drew and harpist Valerie Von Pechy Whitcup established St. Francis Music Publications, which specializes in music for double bass, harp, string and instrument.

Of course, one of the crowning achievements of his extraordinary career was the founding of the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival. He and his wife Judith were honored in 2008 by the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival for their dedication and vision with a plaque placed in the Highlands Performing Arts Center.

In 2015 the International Society of Bassists presented him with its Lifetime Achievement Award.