Josef Luitz (born 2. August 1934 in Vienna) is an Austrian cellist and cello teacher. He was solo cellist of the NÖ Tonkünstlerorchester and is co-founder of the international chamber music festival Allegro Vivo. Biography He spent his childhood in Gablitz near Vienna. His father was music director of the 1. Gablitzer Musikverein. He first became an apprentice to an instrument maker. After finishing his apprenticeship he took a job as adjuster for automatic lathes. In his spare time he took cello lessons with Walther Kleinecke and studied with Professor Nikolaus Hübner. He began his cello career as principal cellist of the NÖ Tonkünstlerorchester, and later advanced to the post of solo cellist. Apart from his solo performances he was involved in many chamber music ensembles and also became teacher of cello at the Konservatorium Vienna. Josef Luitz is married to Edelgard Sonja Luitz and has two children: Joachim (1967) and Angelika (1968). Engagements 1957-62 Tonkünstler Orchestra, principal cellist 1962-99 1st solo cellist of the Tonkünstler Orchestra 1972-99 Konservatorium Wien, teacher for cello 1988-89 University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, teacher for chambermusic Membership in chamber music ensembles 1962-63 Streichtrio of the Tonkünstler Orchestra 1963-68 Haydn Quartett Vienna with Thomas Kakuska 1968-75 Ensemble Kontrapunkte (mainly contemporary music) 1972-77 Philharmonia Quintett (with Wolfgang Poduschka) seit 1977 Tonkünstler Kammerorchester - Academia Allegro Vivo, co-founder, president and solo cellist of this orchestra 1978-95 Concordia Trio (piano trio) with Harald Ossberger and Erich Schagerl Courses and Seminars since 1979 International Chamber Music Festival Austria Allegro Vivo (co-founder and president) 1981-86 Mid summernight festival in Umeå, Sweden, cello and chamber music 1985-92 Summer seminars for music teachers in Tullnerbach and Zeillern 1989-93 Wiener MusikSeminar (international mastercourse) 1992- Wiener Musikverein-Nagano, Japan - seminars, chamber music and orchestra Honors and awards 1994: Silver Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria 1997: Gold Decoration for Services to the country of Lower Austria 2000: Austrian Decoration for Science and Art 2009: culture prize of the city of Horn Discography (excerpt) Composers of the court of the Holy Roman Empire: G. Muffat, G. C. Wagenseil, J. J. Fux and J. J. Froberger (MHS 601, 1965?) Masters of the French Baroque von Jean-Marie Leclair (MHS 655, 1966) Rococo delights von Hilde Langfort (1966) Spohr Nonet in F, Op. 31, Double-Quartett in E minor, op. 87 (DECCA SSD416, 1974) Four sonatas for flute and continuo von Johann Joachim Quantz (MHS