Denise Djokic
32-year-old internationally regarded solo cellist born in Halifax
Her cello: Made in 1901 by Romeo Antoniazzi, a well-known and admired Italian luthier whose instruments are some of the finest from the modern Italian makers.
A little history: The story of my cello is actually written on the back inside of the instrument (if you peek into the f-holes, you can see the handwriting). A professor Maggrini bought it from Romeo Antoniazzi’s shop in Cremona, Italy at the turn of the last century. He sold it to his pupil, who became one of the principal cellists of one of the Buenos Aires orchestra in Argentina. It was later purchased from the cellist by Horacio Piniero, who was a luthier from South America who worked for Jacques Francais, the famous luthier from New York.
What it’s worth: Probably around the same as what the average Canadian house would cost today.
How she got it: The cello was purchased for me in 1997 when I was a student at the Cleveland Institute of Music. I had done a lot of cello-searching until then, and fell in love with this one instantly.
A little about its personality: It has a strong but good-natured personality, with a warm, robust sound. It has a very special and focused tone, which penetrates deeply in a large or small hall. It doesn’t experience the mood swings that much older instruments tend to have because of weather. It’s very dependable, and easy to play! It doesn’t have a nickname, but when I travel I usually book its ticket as “Mr. Cello Djokic.”
What it means to her: It’s a real privilege to play this cello, and I appreciate what it teaches me every day. Finding and acquiring the right instrument can be one of the biggest challenges for string players today. I’ve been fortunate to play other cellos loaned to me from the Canada Council’s instrument bank, including the 1696 “Bonjour” Stradivari, which was an incredibly rewarding experience and was also the instrument I used to make my first recording. It really helped me grow as an artist, and enabled me return to my own cello with a renewed sense of purpose. When I came back to my Antoniazzi, I felt even more at home, and it has now really become my “voice.”