Luke Acerra

A young man with a beard and dark hair stands outdoors on a stone-paved surface, holding a stringed instrument, likely a cello, in one hand and a bow in the other. He is dressed in a light blue patterned shirt, dark trousers, and brown shoes, smiling at the camera. Behind him is a wall covered with green and yellow leafy vines, and part of a balcony with metal railing is visible above.

Luke Acerra is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and music educator based in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Luke is a passionate solo performer, having attended competitive masterclasses such as Keshet Eilon Master Course in Israel, where he received instruction from Amit Peled and Hillel Zori. In addition, he has participated in masterclasses with world renowned cellists Jens Peter Mainz, Troels Svane and Franz Helmerson. Equally passionate as a chamber musician, Luke performed Caesar Franck’s Piano Quintet with world-renowned soloist, Ilya Kaler in the summer of 2022 at Keshet Eilon Music Festival in Israel. Other chamber music festivals attended include Green Mountain, Madeline Island, and the Encore Chamber Music Festival while having worked with members of the Pacifica, Cavani, Chiara, Jupiter, Ariana, Pacifica and Ariel Quartet. 

His primary cello mentors include Johannes Krebs, Brandon Vamos, Peter Stumpf and Carolyn Suda, and his composition mentors include Don Freund, Claude Baker, P.Q. Phan, Aaron Travers, Bruce Polay and Daniel Godsil.

Luke enjoys playing a wide variety of genres, from classical to contemporary and non-classical. An ardent performer of new music, Luke served as solo cellist in the Indiana University New Music Ensemble, the NOTUS—Indiana University’s Contemporary Vocal Ensemble, and has premiered numerous works by living composers. He has also performed with and contributed cello tracks for singer songwriters in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

As a composer, Luke has written for solo instruments, voice, chamber groups, as well as orchestra and music for film. His compositions have been performed throughout the United States, Europe and Israel. Recent performances of his works include his Suite for Solo Cello by cellist Tobias Stosieck, his duo for violin and cello “Tableaux for an Interior Life” by the Kodály Duo in 2024 in Graz, Austria, and his “Serenade for Strings” in summer of 2025 in Slovenia, Austria and Italy. 

Luke is a passionate music educator, having taught at Indiana University’s String Academy as assistant to Susan Moses, as well as having received string pedagogy training from Indiana University Professors Brenda Brenner and Mimi Zweig. Luke has taught private cello lessons since he was in high school, and has experience teaching beginner, intermediate and advanced cello students in English as well as German. He also currently teaches choir at Great Hearts Academy — Prairie View Campus in Fort Worth, Texas. 

​Luke received a double bachelors degree at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in cello performance and music composition. Following his undergraduate studies, he pursued a performance diploma on a full-ride scholarship while teaching aural skills as a graduate teaching assistant. He continued his studies in Europe, earning his masters in cello performance from University of Performing Arts Graz in 2023.

In addition to his focus in cello performance, composition and teaching, Luke is a proficient pianist and organist, having worked as an accompanist for voice students at Knox College, as well as having played in churches and accompanying and directing church choirs since he was in high school. He currently serves as organist at St. Elisabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Keller, TX.