The Cello Who Loved Me: An Accidental Pilgrimage to Master the World's Most Beautiful Instrument Paperback – January 15, 2026

A surprise recital while walking the Camino de Santiago turns into another kind of pilgrimage: to learn to play the cello.George, 71, is nearing completion of this ancient route across Spain when he attends a lecture and cello performance. He becomes enthralled with the beauty, versatility, and warmth of this wonderful instrument.There is only one thing to do: learn to play the cello.At home he searches high and low for a teacher and luckily finds one practically in his backyard, a woman with decades of experience with a symphony orchestra. He jumps right in, and, leveraging his past musical experience, he begins practicing and learning the endless intricacies of this beautiful but challenging instrument.Along the way, he researches how cellos are made, tracks down luthiers creating great instruments, meets professional cellists, goes to a cello conference, visits museums, and speaks with a wide range of experts. He remembers his years playing the trombone and being a drum major, for better or worse, and the time he visited with Dick Dale, king of the surf guitar. And finally, he sends himself on a mission: to play his favorite song, “Here Comes the Sun,” on a priceless Stradivarius, the most beautiful cello in the world.Join George on a spiritual and musical journey as he seeks The Cello That Loved Me. Read more