Concerts

Join us for the Cello Festival of Southern Utah 2026 concerts!  Audience can attend these three performances either in-person or remotely through YouTube Live.  You can have access to the concert links through our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/cellofestival.s.utah  The year of 2026 marks  the 11th anniversary of our festival.  This year’s featured clinicians and artists include Dr. Helga Winold, Dr. Sophie Webber, Dr. Sonja Kraus, Dr. Michael Kaufman, Dr. Michelle Kesler & Dr. Lauren Posey. Join us for recitals on Sept 11 at 730pm.  The Matinee Chamber Concert on Sept 12 at 2pm will showcase local and visiting artists as well as first-prize winners of the festival’s Brimhall Cello Competition.  Dr. Kraus will be the soloist in the Final Cello Ensemble Concert on Sept 12 at 730pm. All four performances are held in the Eccles Fine Arts Center, and are open and free to the public.

Livestream available at:

Recital 1 @ 7:00pm

Dr. Sophie Webber, cello

Program:

Ricercar No.1 (1689)                                                                                          Domenico Gabrielli (1651-1690)

Suite No.1 in G Major , BWV1007                                                                   Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

I. Prelude

IV. Sarabande

VI. Gigue

Suite No.1, Op. 72 Canto primo: Sostenuto e largamente                                                   Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)

I. Fuga: Andante moderato

II. Lamento: Lento rubato

III. Canto secondo: Sostenuto

IV. Serenata: Allegretto pizzicato

V. Marcia: Alla marcia moderato

VI. Canto terzo: Sostenuto

VII. Bordone: Moderato quasi recitativo

VIII. Moto perpetuo e Canto quarto: Presto

SEVEN for Solo Cello Song of Isolation                                                                      Andrea Casarrubios (b. 1988)

Recital 2 @ 8:00pm

Dr. Lauren Posey, cello

Dr. Michael Kaufman, cello

Dr. Michelle Kesler, cello

Dr. Ka-Wai Yu, cello

With

Matthew Johnson, solo cello

Program:

Feierliches Stück (arr. Friedrich Grützmacher)                                                               Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

Andante Cantabile from String Quartet No. 1 (arr. Ka-Wai Yu)                        Pyotr Ilyich  Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Libertango (arr, Ka-Wai Yu)                                                                                       Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)

Adagio Cantabile from Symphony No. 13 (arr. Orfeo Mandozzi)                                       Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

Matthew Johnson, solo cello

Concert-Walzer, Op. 31                                                                                    Wilhelm Fitzenhagen (1848-1890)

In addition, please join these artists in their masterclasses on Saturday Sept the 20th.

“Body, Mind & Cello”

Livestream at:

Speaker: Dr. Helga Winold

*This lecture is sponsored by the Utah American String Teachers Association

Livestream available at:

Program:

Brimhall Cello Competition 2026 First-Prize Winner (Junior Category)

Danza del Clavel Rojo                                                                                                        Gabriel Mautner

Trampled Under Foot                                          Jimmy Page, Robert Plant & John Jones (arr. John Reed)

Cellomania USA

Nina Hansen ( director), Emily Stratton, Brenda Jessop, Lucy Wright, Lauren Cowan,

Joni Morrow & Niah Steed

Brimhall Cello Competition 2026 First-Prize Winner (Senior Category)

Serenade Espagnole                                                                                  Alexander Glazunov (1865-1936)

Danse Rustique                                                                                       William Henry Squire (1871-1963)

Heartwood Cello Choir

Directed by Brittany Gardner, Hailey Gibb & Ariel Haubner; accompanied by Emily Williams(piano)

Brimhall Cello Competition 2026 First-Prize Winner (Collegiate Category)

Livestream available at:

Program:

Dodo ti pitit manman (Sleep Mommy’s Little One)                                                          Haitian Folk Song

Arirang (Beloved One)                                                                                                     Korean Folk Song

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot                                                                                  African-American Spiritual

~Ensemble Bravo~

Peter Romney & Erica Hardy, directors

A Wicked Awesome Show Tune Medley                                         Stephen Schwartz (arr. Stephen Mitton)

Misty Mountains                                                                                             J. R. R. Tolkien (arr. Acacello)

Concerning Hobbits                                                                          Howard Shore (arr. Andrew Ascenzo)

~ACelloRondo~

Stephen Mitton & Kamille Brooks, directors

~~~ Short break ~~~

Walzer-Suite, Op. 60 (arr. Ka-Wai Yu)                                                                                    David Popper

Introduction-Valse 1-Valse 3-Valse 5-Finale

Sonja Kraus, solo cello

Cello Quartet in D Minor                                                                                                          Rudolf Matz

I. Allegro

V. Finale in modo rustico

~Festival Soloists~

Ka-Wai Yu, director

Festival workshop participants are assigned to three different cello ensembles based on their level and playing experience: Festival Soloists (advanced-level), ACelloRondo (intermediate-level) & Ensemble Bravo (beginners)