BackStory
Mentor Stories 2026 – Andrew O’Reilly
We asked our 2026 Winter Festival musicians to tell us about their musical mentors…
Andrew O’Reilly, cello
“Last year, I was incredibly lucky to have the opportunity for a lesson with cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras on the slow movement of Dvorak Cello Concerto. We ended up spending much of the lesson talking about Bach and there was one observation in particular he made which I still think about every day I play the cello, regardless of the repertoire. He told me to always find and follow the bassline, whether it’s in an orchestra, a piano, or imaginary in some parts of the Bach Cello Suites. Once aware of how the bass moves, the melody can then be played naturally on top, not as a cellist but as a human voice. I also think it’s important to remember this when playing the bassline (as the cello often is) to ensure we are playing in a reliable and convincing way, so that collectively every part and every voice can play expressively and freely.”
