KENNESAW, Ga. | Aug 27, 2025

Bailey to perform with Bailey School of Music faculty for a special anniversary performance.

The Bailey School of Music (BSOM) at Kennesaw State University is proud to present internationally acclaimed cellist Zuill Bailey on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. 

“This concert celebrates the 40th anniversary of my concerto debut with orchestra playing the Saint-Saëns Concerto No. 1,” Bailey said. He added that it was during that performance he knew he couldn’t live without music.  

The evening’s program will open with The Muse and the Poet by Camille Saint-Saëns, a lyrical trio performed by Helen Kim on violin, Zuill Bailey on cello and Robert Henry on piano. Bailey and Henry will then continue with Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33, a virtuosic work in three movements that showcases the expressive and technical range of the cello. After intermission, Bailey will return to the stage for Franz Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata in A minor, D. 821, arranged for solo cello and string quartet by Cicely Parnas. He will be joined by Helen Kim and Kenn Wagner on violins, Yinzi Kong on viola and Charae Krueger on cello for this elegant and introspective chamber work. 

In addition to the recital, Bailey will offer a masterclass for BSOM students, providing a rare opportunity to learn directly from one of the world’s most prominent cellists. 

“This is an extraordinary moment for our students and audiences alike,” said Helen Kim, professor of violin and coordinator of the string area. “To experience Zuill’s artistry and his dedication to the next generation of musicians is an inspiration. We are thrilled to celebrate his return and to reconnect through this special concert.” 

Bailey is a Grammy Award-winning soloist, recitalist, artistic director and educator, known for his celebrated artistry, technical skill and engaging stage presence. He won the Grammy for Best Solo Performance in 2017 for Tales of Hemingway with the Nashville Symphony and has released numerous acclaimed recordings, including the world premiere of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Cello Concerto and two recordings of the Bach Cello Suites. He performs on the historic “Rosette” 1693 Matteo Gofriller cello, once owned by Mischa Schneider of the Budapest String Quartet. 

His career spans performances with major symphony orchestras and appearances on NPR, BBC, HBO’s Oz and SiriusXM. He is also a dedicated educator, serving as professor of cello and director of the Center for Arts Entrepreneurship at the University of Texas at El Paso, and as artistic director for several music festivals across the United States. 

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here or by calling the Box Office at 470-578-6650.  

--Brooke Marier