Jesse Luke
Jesse Luke began studying the cello at the age of three in Iowa City at the Preucil School of Music. After bouncing around the U.S. and Germany in a military family, Jesse found his way back to the Preucil School at the age of fifteen, and completed his high school studies there.
In 2001, Jesse went on to study at the University of Northern Iowa with Dr. Jonathon Chenoweth and became a member of the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra which he still plays in today. While playing in the symphony, Jesse has worked with incredible performers such as Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile, and Yo Yo Ma. In 2004, Jesse was selected to solo with the infamous and elite UNI Jazz I under the direction of Chris Merz.
Amalgamating all of his influences (classical, rock, jazz, fusion, reggae), Jesse joined a cosmic rock and roll group in 2008 called Daylight Savings Account and plays cello and bass in this group currently. The group released their first full-length LP in March 2013 called 'Safely Something'. He is also the bass guitarist with local country band Dry Run Creek.
Alexander VanDorpe
Alexander began cello lessons at age 3 with an instrument that measured only 29.5" from top to bottom! Developing his musical skills at the Preucil School of Music in Iowa City afforded him the opportunity to travel to 7 foreign countries by the age of 18 with various musical groups. Playing for the Prince of Japan, winning Principal Cello of the Iowa All-State Orchestra, and placing 3rd in the American String Teachers Association National Competition were major accomplishments that propelled him to audition and be accepted at the Eastman School of Music.
Graduating from Eastman in 2005 with a BM in Cello Performance, Alexander returned to Iowa and won positions as Assistant Principal Cello with Orchestra Iowa and Section Cello with Des Moines and Quad Cities Symphonies. Soon after, however, he made the decision to leave the professional music world for a time to support his parents who were battling Parkinson's Disease and Breast Cancer.
Alexander has served as Guest Principal Cello with the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony and spent 7 years playing with the Des Moines Symphony, "retiring" last year when he moved with his family from Des Moines to Cedar Rapids. Always having had an interest in the business world, he decided to start his own company in 2010. Soon after, he became close friends with, and eventually married, his beautiful wife Rebecca, whom he first met at the Iowa State Fair when he won the Bill Riley Talent Show in 2003. Together they own and operate Royale Flush Gaming, a casino party company, and Becca's Gluten Free Bakery. Both businesses have clients in Eastern Iowa and the Des Moines area as well. Running two businesses and raising two boys keeps everyone in his family very busy, but Alexander loves making time to provide music for weddings, receptions, and other special events!