Judith McIntyre Galecki

Cellist Judith McIntyre Galecki has been a member of the Colorado Symphony as Third Chair Cello since 2003 and held the position of Acting Principal for the 2017-2019 seasons. 

Born into a very musical family, Judith grew up surrounded by music. She had her first lessons on violin at the age of 4 at the Cleveland institute of Music.  At the age of 7, she discovered her true love for the cello after playing her sister’s viola held like a cello. Her father, a professor of piano and composition, was her first accompanist for festivals and competitions.  She made her first appearance as concerto soloist with her hometown orchestra, the Windsor Symphony, at the age of 16. She also performed as concerto soloist with the Detroit Symphony at the age of 18. She was also invited to perform in Masterclasses for Janos Starker and Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi at Orford Musique in Quebec, later returning to study with Daniel Domb and Yuri Turovsky. 

She holds a bachelor of music degree in cello performance from the University of Toronto where she studied with Daniel Domb (former Principal Cellist of the Toronto Symphony). She also holds a Master’s Degree and professional studies’ diploma from the Manhattan School of Music where she studied with Alan Stepansky (former Associate Principal cellist of the New York Philharmonic).

While at the Manhattan School, she performed regularly as principal cellist of the Symphony and Chamber Sinfonia. She was also chosen as one of 5 students to travel to the Salzburg Easter Festival to take lessons from cellists from the Berlin Philharmonic. 

While in New York, Judith was a Susan Wadsworth Young Concert Artists International Auditions finalist. Upon graduation from the Manhattan School, Judith was awarded the Pablo Casals Graduation Award for musical accomplishment and human endeavor. She was also invited to Japan to participate in the Music Masters Course in Kazusa and had the opportunity to perform Rossini’s famous William Tell cello solo on Tokyo’s renowned Suntory Hall stage with the festival orchestra under conductor Naoto Otomo. 

In 2003, Judith joined the Pittsburgh Symphony on their European Tour, and spent many summers performing with the Verbier Festival Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra as Principal Cellist and Assistant Principal Cellist, including a tour with Joshua Bell. Highlights of her time at the Verbier festival  includes a tour with Mstislav Rostropovich conducting Shostakovich’s Symphony No.5.

More recently Judith has performed as soloist with the Colorado Symphony and the Colorado Young Sinfonia.

An avid chamber musician, Judith has performed all over the world. She has been very active with many groups and festivals including the Colorado Chamber Players, the Front Range Chamber Players, the Off the Hook Festival, the Crested Butte Music Festival, the Steamboat Springs Music Festival, the Englewood Arts Center series, the Boulder Library concert series, the Bach Ensemble and the Cabrillo New Music Festival in Santa Cruz, CA. She spends her summers playing orchestral and chamber music at the Grand Teton Music Festival in Jackson WY.

Judith is an alumna of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Le Domaine Forget International Festival, the Detroit Civic Symphony Orchestra, and the Brott Music Festival in Hamilton, Ontario, and was a Midori and Friends Teaching Artist. 

Judith’s passion for the cello extends off the stage through her studio. She enjoys teaching and mentoring all types of students from young children to retired rocket scientists. Outside of her busy orchestral, chamber music and teaching schedule, Judith spends her time with her husband, two daughters, 2 dogs and a cat. She loves skiing, cooking, hiking, camping and snow-shoeing.