The Cello Who Loved Me
An accidental pilgrimage to master the world’s most beautiful instrument
By George Sorensen
Coming February 24, 2026
Retailer/reviewer information
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.
Praise for The Cello Who Loved Me:
“This book is about the author’s passion for music and an unwitting pilgrimage. … This book hooked me from the start. … full of history, humor, and the intricacies of the cello. I recommend it heartily.”
“Told with equal parts of exuberance, reflection, and humor, Sorensen takes us along with him on his pilgrimage to learn the cello and explore his musical roots. More than this, his is a story of inspiration we could all use to pursue our own passions.”
“… Sorensen takes the reader on a personal quest to uncover the heart and soul of a musical instrument: the cello. He tells his story with humor, insight, and an eye for detail, and the various ‘side quests’—ranging from battles with an evil high school music teacher to eating moose stew in Norway—are as much fun to read about as his journey to mastering this challenging and inspiring musical instrument. ”
“George’s new book is the phantasmagoria of a fantastic sequence of ever-changing opportunities and dreams come true. He began playing the cello, while others his age were napping quietly in a comfortable chair.”
“Spending time with him made me see the cello’s beauty with fresh eyes.”
“Blending high and low notes from his life, George presents his harmonious story as ‘a seasoned, but nonetheless spunky, adult beginner’ starting cello lessons at 71. His musical journey proves that there’s no age limit on learning. And that having bad teachers in the past shouldn’t prevent you from pursuing your passion now.”
A portion of the proceeds from The Cello Who Loved Me goes to The Friends of the Lake Oswego Public Library to help support music programming in the community
