Jeffrey Noel Lastrapes

Jeffrey Noel Lastrapes is a Professor of Cello at Texas Tech University's School of Music. A distinguished cellist, he has performed and taught globally across Europe, South America, Asia, and all regions of the U.S. He studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and the Juilliard School under renowned mentors Orlando Cole and Harvey Shapiro.

• Active soloist and chamber musician
• Performer of J.S. Bach's Complete Suites for Solo Cello
• Co-founder of the Montenegro Cello Festival and Course (2019)
• Recipient of the Texas Tech Alumni Association 'New Faculty Award'

His recordings include works by Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Ravel, and Kodaly on New World Records and Centaur Records, with a 2020 video production of Bach's Solo Cello Suites and a print edition of the same work. He performs on a 1684 Francesco Ruggieri cello and a 1987 Paul Schuback cello.

Lastrapes has participated in prestigious festivals such as Evian, Hot Springs, Peninsula, and Bellingham, and concert series like BachFest in Bolivia and Bach in Buffalo. He has served on the faculty of the Interlochen Arts Camp since 1996.

Scientific Awards
• Texas Tech Alumni Association 'New Faculty Award'

As a visually impaired musician, he shared his journey in Texas Tech's 2017 August commencement speech. His career combines performance, pedagogy, and international cultural exchange through classical music.