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Cello Seminar Series - Rising Stars Recital
Join us for an evening of music featuring selected performances from the seven international cello fellows listed below:
Brazilian-American cellist Gabriel Martins (b. 1998) has established himself as one of the world's most compelling young musicians. His artistry has already been recognized through an extensive list of accolades including the American Recital Debut Award, Concert Artists Guild/Young Classical Artists Trust Grand Prize, the Sphinx Competition Gold Medal, the David Popper International Cello Competition Gold Medal, the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians Silver Medal, the Schadt String Competition Gold Medal, the Orford Music Award, and the Prague Spring Czech Music Fund Prize. These successes have led to a number of high-profile debuts including Carnegie, Merkin, and Wigmore Halls, 92nd Street Y, the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, and the Alabama, Arkansas, Greensboro, Houston, Indianapolis, Memphis, Montréal, New Russian State, Omaha, Pacific, Phoenix, San Francisco, and São Paulo Symphony Orchestras. The Strad Magazine declared his all-Bach New York City recital debut to be "flawlessly played...a deeply moving experience”, and he has been named one of the Classic FM “30 under 30” Rising Stars.
Lauded for his "rich, warm" and "mesmerizing" sound, Martins carries a concerto repertoire spanning every major work. In recital, his interpretations of the Bach Cello Suites and arrangements of the Violin Sonatas and Partitas have garnered particular recognition. He is currently undertaking a project to record all twelve masterpieces. Martins’ playing has been broadcast on NPR, WQXR, KUSC, WFMT, and more. His festival appearances include Aspen, Bard, Brevard, Chamberfest Cleveland, Four Seasons, La Jolla, Mainly Mozart, Ravinia, and Yellow Barn.
Martins grew up in Bloomington, Indiana and began playing the cello when he was five, studying with Susan Moses at the Indiana University String Academy. He went on to receive his B.M. as a Presidential Scholar at the USC Thornton School of Music with Ralph Kirshbaum. In his freshman year at USC, he won the school’s concerto competition as well as its Bach competition. He received his M.M. at the New England Conservatory of Music with Laurence Lesser. He now makes his residence in Charleston, South Carolina. In addition to performing, he also composes and teaches.
Hailed as “sensational” and for playing with “total commitment and conviction” (Seen & Heard International 2024), cellist Rainer Crosett is quickly building an international career as an artist of uncommon sensitivity and creativity. After winning the 2018 Pierre Fournier Award in London, he made his recital debut at Wigmore Hall and his concerto debut with the Philharmonia Orchestra of London. Recently named a recipient of the 2025 American Recital Debut Award, he will make his New York recital debut at Carnegie Hall in Spring 2026. Rainer’s passion for the way music relates to other fields also continues to yield interdisciplinary projects, including a new chamber music society in Berlin, Tonhain Kollektiv.
Rainer’s recent concert highlights have included recitals at Bridgewater Hall (Manchester, UK), Oxford May Music, the Romsey Chamber Music Festival (UK), the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts (Chicago), and the Roman River Festival (UK). As a chamber musician, he has performed at the Zürich Chamber Music Society, Yellow Barn, Ravinia, Rheingau Musik Festival, Miesbach Kammermusikfestival, Prussia Cove Open Chamber Music, Music@Menlo, and La Jolla SummerFest. He has also collaborated in performance with artists such as Robert Levin, the Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart, the Parker Quartet, Anthony Marwood, Donald and Vivian Weilerstein, and Kim Kashkashian.
A passionate educator, Rainer has given cello and chamber music masterclasses at the Royal Academy of Music in London, the University of California - Irvine, the Romsey Chamber Music Festival, and Amsterdam’s HearAndNow Festival. Also in demand as an orchestral section leader in Europe, he performs regularly as guest principal cellist with Amsterdam Sinfonietta and the Oslo Philharmonic.
Isaiah Pennington divides his time between Bermuda and New York City. Through the summer of 2026, he is based in Bermuda, where he is founding the Bermuda Chamber Music Festival, launching its inaugural season at the Bermuda National Gallery.
Isaiah has recently performed at venues such as the DiMenna Center for Classical Music and the German Consulate General in New York, where he was featured in a special concert commemorating the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Prior to moving to Bermuda, Isaiah performed extensively for Lincoln Center Stage, specializing in major piano quartet repertoire.
Isaiah performs with various orchestras in New York and is frequently called as principal cellist, appearing in concerts at venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to the Kaufman Center. A career highlight was premiering Philip Glass’s Symphony No. 14.
While in Bermuda, Isaiah serves on the faculty of the Bermuda School of Music, where he is developing a Suzuki cello program and leading outreach initiatives to expand access to classical music across the island. In addition to these roles, he is a member of a newly formed Bermuda Piano Trio.
As a fellow with the Montclair Orchestra, Isaiah performed alongside principals from the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. This fellowship also led to collaborations in chamber music concerts at Van Vleck House & Gardens and the Morris Museum Back Porch Series, working with musicians from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
Isaiah holds a Master of Music degree from the Mannes School of Music, where he studied under Marcy Rosen. During his time at Mannes, he was selected for the Orchestra of St. Luke’s Chamber Music Mentorship Program as part of the Mannes Quartet. He also trained in the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra method during the Orpheus@Mannes festival, a unique collaboration between the orchestra and the school. Additionally, he gave several high-profile chamber music and solo performances as part of the Mannes Sounds Festival.
Prior to this, Isaiah earned his Bachelor of Music from the Meadows School of the Arts in Dallas, where he studied with Andrés Díaz. During this time, he developed a close association with the Escher String Quartet, receiving mentorship and performing alongside its members over several years.
Isaiah has participated in masterclasses with artists such as Colin Carr, Matt Haimovitz, Steven Isserlis, Johannes Moser, Philippe Muller, and Raphael Wallfisch.
In the little time when Isaiah isn’t playing the cello, he enjoys fly fishing, amateur astronomy, backpacking, and exploring the natural world. A naturally curious person, he brings this spirit of exploration to both his music and teaching.
Mia Wimbiscus made her orchestral debut in 2020 with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago at Orchestra Hall as a finalist of the Crain-Maling Foundation, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition. Subsequent solos with orchestra followed; Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago, Music Institute of Chicago, Academy orchestra, Highland Park Strings, and the Südwestdeutsches Kammerorchester Pforzheim in Rutesheim, Germany.
As a soloist, Mia has won many first prizes including: Int’l Music Competition Grand Prize Virtuoso, Enkor International Music Competition, Walgreens National Concerto Competition, multiple divisions of Society of American Musicians Competition, and the Festival in Honor of Confucius Competition. She was also a prize winner in the Grand Prize-Rising Star Category of the Chicago Int’l Music Competition, Elmhurst Symphony Auditions, Dupage Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Awards, and the Discover Symphony Waltz MemorialScholarship Award. Mia will be featured in NPR's “From the Top” program this year.
As a dedicated chamber musician, Mia has received Grand Prize at the Pearl Barnet Chamber Music Competition and First Prize at the Chicago International Music Competition in 2022 with the Dando Piano Trio. She was also a quarter finalist at the Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition with two string quartets.
During recent summers, Mia participated in Musica Mundi in Waterloo, Belgium, Orford Musique Academy in Orford, Quebec, Music Alps in Tignes, France, Cello Classics Course in Tereglio, Italy, and Rutesheim Akademie in Rutesheim, Germany.
Mia is currently in her 2nd year at The Royal Conservatory of Music Glenn Gould School, and has been awarded The David Allan & Cynthia Young Full Merit Scholarship.
In her free time, Mia enjoys bringing music to the community with her family cello trio, particularly to those who are unable to attend a concert.
William Harris is an accomplished cellist, pianist, and vocalist who has achieved significant recognition across multiple disciplines within just seven years of musical study. He has been awarded a Fellowship Performance Diploma for cello (2017), Licentiate Performance Diploma for piano, and an Associate Performance Diploma for voice. After obtaining a double First Class Honours degree in Music from Clare College, Cambridge (2022), where he was both a music and choral scholar, he went on to study at the Eastman School of Music in upstate New York with Professor Steven Doane. He is soon to embark on a Doctorate of Music at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, with Professor Ralph Kirshbaum.
As a soloist, William has performed with orchestra across Europe, including Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme in Italy with the Orchestra d’Archi “Duchi d’Acquaaviva’ in Atri, Italy and regularly gives solo recitals in the U.K.. During his time at the University of Cambridge, he not only sang with the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge, but also performed with them as a cellist around the U.K., including works by Nico Muhly, Tarik O’Reagan, Brahms and Ola Gjeilo for cello and choir.
As a chamber musician, William has played at London venues including St John’s Smith Square and L.S.O. St. Luke’s, where he performed Gnessin’s Piano Trio ‘In Memory of Our Perished Child’, opus 63, as part of the Gresham College Lecture series. In Cambridge, he was part of a new music trio that participated in masterclasses with composers such as Judith Bingham, Graham Ross, and John Rutter. As a fellow of the 2023 Beethoven Academy at the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society, he has performed at the Smithsonian Institute and other private venues in Washington D.C.. In the last three years, William has given multiple chamber music outreach and educational concerts at schools around the Rochester (N.Y.) area.
Recent festival appearances include the Schiermonnikoog Festival in the Netherlands, Prussia Cove International Musicians Seminar, Apeldoorn Festival and Masterclasses, Sitka International Cello Seminar, and Music Cordiale Music Festival. His growing reputation as a cellist was further solidified when he won prizes at the Radda String Competition in New York (2024) and reached the semi-final stage of the Antonio Janigro International CelloCompetition in Croatia in 2024. William currently plays on a cello dating from 1750 made by ‘Finocchi of Perugia’ and a bow made by Eugène Sartory in Paris in 1905.
Owen Graham is an American-born half British cellist originally from New YorkCity, who is currently working in New York again after years abroad. He has performed both as a solo artist and in orchestras around the world, including orchestral tours of China and Sicily, and playing solo at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Owen has received awards, including the Duke Ellington Award for Excellence in Music at the Solebury School, and the Bruce Montgomery Foundation for the Arts Springboard Grant. He was awarded the Young Artists Series Debut Concert at TheSolebury School in 2018, which has continued as a series to this day. He has also been given the position of interim faculty member at The Blue Mountain Festival as a performer, chamber music coach, and a teacher of jazz improvisation.
Being classically trained, Owen most often performs classical repertoire, but has been known to perform and professionally record jazz, rock, and alternative genres. He hasdebuted new compositions in the USA and UK.
Owen is currently completing his Masters degree at Manhattan School of Music, studying with David Geber. This is after four years at The Royal Academy of Music, studying with Josephine Knight. Before this, he studied with Marion Feldman at theManhattan School of Music, and Anita Hill in Princeton New Jersey. He has also studiedwith visiting professors Sung-Won Yang, and Sheku Kanneh-Mason.
With the gracious help of the Wolfson Foundation, Owen plays a contemporary cello jointly made by Harry Strong and Tony Padday, paired with an antique German bow,acquired with the generous help of the Bruce Montgomery Foundation.
Through many years of high level playing and performing throughout America, Zoe Hardel has developed a platform for cello performance in New York City. Her most recent achievement is with Carnegie Hall’s New York String Orchestra, performing two concerts of Beethoven and Mozart in the Isaac Stern auditorium. Other performances include a solo concert for the Portland Bach Experience, a European tour with NEC’s premiere youth orchestra, and a debut with the Portland String Quartet for the inauguration of Maine governor Janet Mills, among others. Zoe has played for cellists such as Lynn Harrell, Hannah Roberts, and Steven Doane in masterclasses and festivals. Currently, she is pursuing a degree from the Manhattan School of Music, studying with Julia Lichten.
The Sitka International Cello Seminar is a program of the Sitka Music Festival, Alaska’s premier chamber music presenter. The Sitka Music Festival inspires audiences, sparks creativity, and strengthens community across Alaska through live chamber music performances, music education, and training—by artists of the highest caliber.
Cello Seminar Series: Brinton Averil Smith in Recital
Program to be selected from:
Ignaz Moscheles (1794–1870)
Studies in Melodic Counterpoint, Op.137a, No.10
Felix Mendelssohn (arr. Joseph Achron) (1809–1847)
Auf Flügeln des Gesanges, Op.34, No.2
Charles-Valentin Alkan (1813–1888)
Sonate de concert pour piano et violoncelle, Op.47
Anton Rubinstein (1829–1894)
Romance from 6 Soirées à Saint-Petersbourg, Op.44, No.1
Benjamin Godard (1849–1895)
Oh! ne t’éveille pas encore from Jocelyn, Op.100
Jacques Offenbach (1819–1880)
Tarentelle, WoO
Joseph Achron (1886–1943)
Hebrew Melody, Op.33
Ernest Bloch (arr. Schuster) (1880–1959)
Nigun from Baal Shem, B.47
Moritz Moszkowski (arr. Gendron) (1854–1925)
Guitarre, Op.45, No.2
Critics have described American cellist Brinton Averil Smith as a “virtuoso cellist with few equals,” hailing him“a proponent of old-school string playing such as that of Piatigorsky and Heifetz.” Smith’s debut recording of Miklós Rózsa’s Cello Concerto with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra received widespread international critical acclaim, with Gramophone praising Smith as a “hugely eloquent, impassioned soloist,” and continuing “The sheer bravura of Smith’s reading is infectious.” while the American Record Guide praised his recording of chamber music of Fauré with Gil Shaham as “Stunningly beautiful,” continuing “I cannot imagine a better stylistic match for Shaham.” Of Mr. Smith's most recent recording for Naxos, featuring a revival of of Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Cello Concerto and virtuoso arrangements for cello and piano BBC Music magazine wrote “his is a cast iron technique of verve and refinement put entirely at the service of the music... The artistry on display here is breathtaking.” His most recent recording, Exiles in Paradise, for Naxos explores the rich legacy of the émigré composers who gathered in Hollywood in the mid-20th century.
Mr. Smith's North American engagements have included performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and recital and concerto engagements throughout the country, while his broadcast performances include CBS's Sunday Morning and regular appearances on NPR’s Performance Today and Symphonycast. Mr. Smith has appeared regularly as a soloist with the Houston Symphony since joining the orchestra as principal cellist in 2005. Prior to this, he was the first musician chosen by Lorin Maazel to join the New York Philharmonic and the principal cellist of the San Diego and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestras. His live concert performances on youtube have been viewed nearly a million times, including over two hundred and fifty thousand views of a live encore of Paganini's 24th Caprice. Devoted to expanding the cello repertoire, Mr. Smith performs a wide variety of violin, piano and vocal transcriptions and gave the North American premiers of rediscovered cello works of Jean Sibelius and Alexander Zemlinsky and the world premiere of Castelnuovo-Tedesco's 1951 Sonata for violin and cello. Mr. Smith also recently gave the first professional performance, recorded live for release on Naxos, of Castelnuovo-Tedesco's cello concerto since its 1935 premiere with Arturo Toscanini and Gregor Piatigorsky.
An active chamber musician, Smith has collaborated with violinist Gil Shaham on numerous occasions including Carnegie Hall's Gil Shaham and Friends series. He has also collaborated with cellists Yo-Yo Ma and Lynn Harrell, pianists Emanuel Ax, Jeffrey Kahane, Jonathan Biss and Kirill Gerstein, violinists James Ehnes, Cho-Liang Lin and Sarah Chang, soprano Dawn Upshaw, and members of the Beaux Arts Trio and the Guarneri, Emerson, Juilliard, Cleveland, and Berg quartets. He has performed with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Marlboro Music Festival, the Aspen Music Festival, the Sarasota Music Festival, the Seattle Chamber Music Society, the Mainly Mozart Festival, the Brevard Music Festival and the Texas Music Festival and is an artistic director of the Restoration Chamber Music series in Galveston. Mr. Smith is currently an Associate Professor at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University and a faculty member of the Aspen and Sarasota Music Festivals.
The son of a mathematician and a pianist, Brinton Averil Smith was admitted to Arizona State University at age 10, where he took courses in mathematics and German and, at age 17, completed a B.A. in mathematics. He then became a student of Eleonore Schoenfeld at the University of Southern California, where he was also a teaching assistant in the mathematics department, and completed work for an M.A. in mathematics at age 19. He subsequently studied with the renowned cellist Zara Nelsova at The Juilliard School. While there he was a prize winner in several consecutive Juilliard concerto competitions and the Leonard Rose International Cello Competition and received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree, writing on the playing of Emanuel Feuermann. Mr. Smith resides in Houston with his wife, the pianist Evelyn Chen, their daughter, Calista and two slightly evil but kind-hearted dogs.
Classical Music Brunch
Brunch Concert at the Miner Music Center!
Experience one of the Sitka Music Festival’s most intimate and cherished events—the 2025 Brunch Concert—held in our beautifully renovated home, the Miner Music Center at Stevenson Hall. With seating limited to just 50 guests, this special fundraiser marks the grand finale of our summer festival.
Doors open at 11 a.m., allowing you to enjoy a beverage while settling in for an extraordinary concert, which begins at 11:15 a.m.. Following the performance, savor a full catered brunch, featuring a menu that always includes an Alaskan specialty—often a signature dish with Moose (vegetarian menu options available). Beverages include Prosecco, Mimosas, fresh orange juice, coffee, tea, and more.
Ticket fees are now included in the price—no surprises at checkout! Secure your spot online in advance, as this cherished event always sells out.
Summer Festival Subscription Concert 8: Brahms and Boccherini
Join the Sitka Music Festival for an afternoon of exquisite chamber music featuring cellist John-Henry Crawford and pianist Victor Asuncion in a work to be announced. The program continues with Boccherini’s elegant Cello Quintet in C Major, Op. 42 No. 2, led by Grammy-winning cellist Zuill Bailey and the Vega String Quartet. The concert concludes with the sweeping lyricism of Brahms’ Sextet in B-flat Major, Op. 18. The Sitka Music Festival (SMF) inspires audiences, sparks creativity, and strengthens community across Alaska through live chamber music performances, music education, and training by artists of the highest caliber.
Summer Festival Subscription Concert 7: CONCERTO NIGHT – A Dazzling Evening of Virtuosity
Experience a night of breathtaking virtuosity at Sitka Music Festival’s Concerto Night! Featuring Grammy-winning cellist Zuill Bailey, renowned violinist Helen Kim, and pianist Natasha Paremski, the program includes Saint-Saëns’ La muse et le poète, Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, and Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1. SMF brings world-class chamber music to Alaska.
Midweek at Miner Music Center
Join us on Wednesday evening for music, friends, conversation, and lite refreshments in the beautifully renovated Miner Music Center at Stevenson Hall.
📅 Wednesday, June 25
🕠 Doors open at 5:30 p.m. – Come in, grab a drink, and socialize.
🎶 Music and artist conversations begin at 6:00 p.m.
This intimate evening event features a program of chamber music and conversations with the artists, performed by musicians selected from:
🎻 John Henry Crawford, cello
🎹 Victor Asuncion, piano
🎻 Helen Kim, violin
🎻 Allison Bailey, viola
🎻 Vega Quartet
🎻 Emily Daggett Smith, violin
🎻 Jessica Shuang Wu, violin
🎻 Joseph Skerik, viola
🎻 Guang Wang, cello
Space is limited to 50 people—reserve your tickets now!
Presented by the Sitka Music Festival (SMF), which inspires audiences, sparks creativity, and strengthens community across Alaska through live chamber music performances, music education, and training by artists of the highest caliber.
For over 50 years, SMF has presented classical music at the highest artistic standards. Throughout its history, SMF musicians have shared their music with Alaskans who would otherwise not have access to live chamber music of this caliber. In turn, Alaskans have shared their music, traditions, and ways of life with the visiting musicians. These shared experiences have taken SMF musicians to more than 40 Alaskan communities, including remote villages off the road system. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, SMF remains dedicated to bringing exceptional music experiences to communities statewide through performances like Bach’s Lunch and other outreach initiatives.
Allen Marine Classical Music Cruise 2025
Join us Sunday, June 22, 2025, from 6–8 p.m. for the Sitka Music Festival’s Evening Cruise Concert aboard an Allen Marine catamaran! Enjoy breathtaking views, world-class chamber music, a catered meal, and a cash bar. This unforgettable fundraiser supports SMF’s mission to inspire audiences and spark creativity through exceptional classical music in Alaska. Get your tickets before it sells out!
Summer Festival Subscription Concert 6: Opera Highlights & Schubert’s Trout Quintet
Experience the magic of classical music with the Sitka Music Festival at Opera Highlights & Schubert’s Trout Quintet on Saturday, June 21, at 7 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall. Enjoy iconic opera arias by Mozart, Bizet, and Puccini, performed by top artists, followed by Schubert’s Trout Quintet, a chamber music gem. Celebrate world-class performances in the heart of Sitka, Alaska!
Summer Festival Subscription Concert 5: "To an Alaskan Glacier" – A Night of Chamber and Vocal Masterpieces
Experience an unforgettable evening of chamber and vocal music, featuring works for strings and voice. The program opens with two virtuosic pieces for cello and quartet, followed by a world premiere that pays tribute to Alaska’s majestic landscapes. The second half of the program showcases a collection of vocal works—ranging from Irving Fine’s charming Childhood Fables for Grownups to beloved operatic highlights.
Bach's Lunch - FREE
Join us at noon at the Odess Theater for Bach's Lunch!
What is Bach's Lunch? It’s a free lunchtime community concert where you can enjoy world-class classical music while bringing your own Bach’s (boxed) lunch. Connect with fellow music lovers, meet the incredible artists, and experience the beauty of live music in a relaxed setting.
📅 Thursday, June 19 at 12 p.m.
🎶 Program TBA featuring the following artists:
🎤 Danielle Talamantes, soprano
🎤 Kerry Wilkerson, bass-baritone
🎹 Henry Dellinger, piano & composer
🎻 Jessica Shuang Wu, violin
🎻 Emily Daggett Smith, violin
🎻 Allison Bailey, viola
🎻 Guang Wang, cello
🎻 Zuill Bailey, cello
Presented by the Sitka Music Festival (SMF), which inspires audiences, sparks creativity, and strengthens community across Alaska through live chamber music performances, music education, and training by artists of the highest caliber.
For over 50 years, SMF has presented classical music at the highest artistic standards. Throughout its history, SMF musicians have shared their music with Alaskans who would otherwise not have access to live chamber music of the highest caliber and, in turn, Alaskans have shared their music, traditions, and ways of life with the visiting musicians. These shared experiences have taken SMF musicians to more than 40 Alaskan communities, many of which are small, remote villages off the road system. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, SMF remains dedicated to bringing exceptional music experiences to communities statewide.
Midweek at Miner Music Center
Join us on Wednesday evening for music, friends, conversation, and lite refreshments in the beautifully renovated Miner Music Center at Stevenson Hall.
📅 Wednesday, June 18
🕠 Doors open at 5:30 p.m. – Come in, grab a drink, and socialize.
🎶 Music and artist conversations begin at 6:00 p.m.
This intimate evening event features a program of chamber music and conversations with the artists, performed by musicians selected from:
🎤 Danielle Talamantes, soprano
🎤 Kerry Wilkerson, bass-baritone
🎹 Henry Dellinger, piano & composer
🎻 Jessica Shuang Wu, violin
🎻 Emily Daggett Smith, violin
🎻 Allison Bailey, viola
🎻 Guang Wang, cello
🎻 Zuill Bailey, cello
Space is limited to 50 people—reserve your tickets now!
Presented by the Sitka Music Festival (SMF), which inspires audiences, sparks creativity, and strengthens community across Alaska through live chamber music performances, music education, and training by artists of the highest caliber.
For over 50 years, SMF has presented classical music at the highest artistic standards. Throughout its history, SMF musicians have shared their music with Alaskans who would otherwise not have access to live chamber music of this caliber. In turn, Alaskans have shared their music, traditions, and ways of life with the visiting musicians. These shared experiences have taken SMF musicians to more than 40 Alaskan communities, including remote villages off the road system. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, SMF remains dedicated to bringing exceptional music experiences to communities statewide through performances like Bach’s Lunch and other outreach initiatives.
Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal Community Crab Feed
Join the Sitka Summer Music Festival’s Annual Crab Feast on June 15, 2025, at Crescent Harbor Shelter! Enjoy fresh Dungeness crab with all the fixings, prepared by Our Town Catering in a buffet-style feast. Sponsored by Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal, proudly supporting the festival through cruise ship tourism. No added ticket fees for online purchases—buy in advance before we sell out!
Summer Festival Subscription Concert 4: Mark & Maggie O’Connor
Experience a night of Americana and virtuosic violin mastery with Grammy-winning duo Mark and Maggie O’Connor at the 2025 Sitka Music Festival. Mark O’Connor, a triple Grammy winner and seven-time CMA Musician of the Year, joins forces with Grammy-winning violinist and vocalist Maggie O’Connor for an unforgettable performance blending classical, folk, and bluegrass traditions. This husband-and-wife duo fell in love after playing violin together in New York City in 2014, and they have been inseparable ever since.
Summer Festival Subscription Concert 3: Kurt Nikkanen, Maria Asteriadou, and Zuill Bailey
Join us for the third installment of the 2025 Sitka Music Festival’s Subscription Concert Series, featuring violinist Kurt Nikkanen, pianist Maria Asteriadou, and cellist Zuill Bailey. This evening’s program presents Beethoven’s thrilling Kreutzer Sonata for violin and piano, followed by Tchaikovsky’s deeply expressive Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50.
Bach's Lunch - FREE
Join us at noon at the Odess Theater for Bach's Lunch!
What is Bach's Lunch? It’s a free lunchtime community concert where you can enjoy world-class classical music while bringing your own Bach’s (boxed) lunch. Connect with fellow music lovers, meet the incredible artists, and experience the beauty of live music in a relaxed setting.
📅 Thursday, June 12 at 12 p.m.
🎶 Program TBA featuring the following artists:
🎻 Mark and Maggie O’Connor
🎻 Kurt Nikkanen, violin
🎹 Maria Asteriadou, piano
🎻 Zuill Bailey, cello
Presented by the Sitka Music Festival (SMF), which inspires audiences, sparks creativity, and strengthens community across Alaska through live chamber music performances, music education, and training by artists of the highest caliber.
For over 50 years, SMF has presented classical music at the highest artistic standards. Throughout its history, SMF musicians have shared their music with Alaskans who would otherwise not have access to live chamber music of the highest caliber and, in turn, Alaskans have shared their music, traditions, and ways of life with the visiting musicians. These shared experiences have taken SMF musicians to more than 40 Alaskan communities, many of which are small, remote villages off the road system. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, SMF remains dedicated to bringing exceptional music experiences to communities statewide.
Week Two at the Mean Queen: Chamber Music & Americana
Experience Week Two at the Mean Queen during the 54th Sitka Summer Music Festival! Join us on Tuesday, June 10, for an intimate evening of world-class classical and Americana music featuring Kurt Nikkanen (violin), Maria Asteriadou (piano), Zuill Bailey (cello), and Grammy-winning duo Mark & Maggie O’Connor. Enjoy incredible performances in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere at Mean Queen while savoring great food and drinks. Limited seating available—reserve your spot now! Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind chamber music and Americana experience in Sitka, Alaska. 🎻🎶 #SitkaMusicFestival #LiveMusic #ChamberMusic
Sea Mart Family Concert - FREE
Join us on the lawn of the Sheldon Jackson Campus for the FREE Sea Mart Family Concert, a fun-filled event perfect for all ages! Enjoy an engaging, hour-long performance featuring family-friendly chamber music and interactive discussions, followed by free ice cream.
🌦 Rain or Shine! We’ve got tents set up in case of rain—just bring a chair or a blanket and enjoy the music. Friendly dogs are welcome, too! 🐾
Presented by the Sitka Music Festival (SMF), Alaska’s premier chamber music presenter, this concert is part of our mission to inspire audiences, spark creativity, and strengthen community across Alaska.
Summer Festival Subscription Concert 2: Trios with Flute and Strings
Discover classical music at the 2025 Sitka Music Festival in stunning Sitka, Alaska! Subscription Concert 2, June 7 at 7 p.m., Harrigan Centennial Hall, showcases chamber music with flutist Amy Taylor, violinist Katerina Chatzinikolau, violist Christian Colberg, and Grammy-winning cellist Zuill Bailey performing Reger, Dohnányi, and Mozart.
Summer Festival Subscription Concert 1: Evin Blomberg, Ilya Finkelshteyn, Christian Colberg, Zuill Bailey, Amy Taylor, and Robert Koenig
Join us for the Summer Festival Subscription Concert 1 on June 6 at 7 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall, featuring virtuoso violinist Evin Blomberg, Grammy-winning cellist Zuill Bailey, and acclaimed artists Ilya Finkelshteyn, Christian Colberg, Amy Taylor, and Robert Koenig. Enjoy JC Bach’s Flute Quartet, Brahms’ Cello Sonata, and Beethoven’s String Trio. Experience world-class chamber music with the Sitka Music Festival, inspiring Alaska for over 50 years.
Bach's Lunch - FREE
Join us at noon at the Odess Theater for Bach's Lunch!
What is Bach's Lunch? It’s a free lunchtime community concert where you can enjoy world-class classical music while bringing your own Bach’s (boxed) lunch. Connect with fellow music lovers, meet the incredible artists, and experience the beauty of live music in a relaxed setting.
Thursday, June 5 at 12 p.m.
Program TBA featuring the following artists:
🎻 Zuill Bailey, cello
🎻 Christian Colberg, viola
🎻 Katerina Chatzinikolau, violin
🎶 Amy Taylor, flute
🎹 Robert Koenig, piano
Presented by the Sitka Music Festival (SMF), which inspires audiences, sparks creativity, and strengthens community across Alaska through live chamber music performances, music education, and training by artists of the highest caliber.
For over 50 years, SMF has presented classical music at the highest artistic standards. Throughout its history, SMF musicians have shared their music with Alaskans who would otherwise not have access to live chamber music of the highest caliber and, in turn, Alaskans have shared their music, traditions, and ways of life with the visiting musicians. These shared experiences have taken SMF musicians to more than 40 Alaskan communities, many of which are small, remote villages off the road system. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, SMF remains dedicated to bringing exceptional music experiences to communities statewide.
54th Summer Music Festival
54th Summer Music Festival!
Tickets on sale now!
Experience the magic of the Sitka Music Festival this summer, Alaska’s premier celebration of world-class chamber music. The 54th Sitka Summer Music Festival, running from June 3 - 29, 2025, invites you to breathtaking Sitka for a month of extraordinary concerts blending tradition and innovation in an intimate setting. Enjoy flagship performances at Harrigan Centennial Hall, where you’ll be captivated by stunning views of Crescent Harbor and majestic eagles soaring overhead as world-class musicians take the stage.
A major highlight of this summer’s festival is the premiere performance of Henry Dehlinger’s To an Alaskan Glacier, a captivating composition for soprano, cello, and piano inspired by Alaska’s awe-inspiring natural beauty. This special presentation brings to life the region’s majestic landscapes through music, making it a must-see event of the season.
Another standout feature this summer is the participation of Grammy-winning artist Mark O’Connor, a seven-time CMA Musician of the Year. Renowned for his virtuosity on fiddle, guitar, and mandolin, O’Connor brings his extraordinary talent and genre-defying compositions to the festival. With accolades including multiple Grammy Awards and a celebrated career blending classical and American roots music, his performances promise to be a thrilling addition to the lineup.
Elevate your festival experience with a classical music dinner cruise on Sitka Sound or a delightful festival brunch. Since 1972, this festival has enriched communities with inspiring performances and educational programs, and this summer continues that legacy with an unforgettable program. Tickets are on sale now—visit www.sitkamusicfestival.org to join us!
Event Schedule
Evening Subscription Concerts at Harrigan Centennial Hall - June 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, and 28.
Mean Queen Cafe Concerts & Midweek at Miner Music Center - TBA
Special Events
Sunday, June 8 - Sea Mart Family Concert
Sunday, June 15 - Sitka Sound Cruise Terminal Community Crab Feed
Sunday, June 22 - Allen Marine Classical Music Cruise
Sunday, June 29 - Classical Music Brunch
The Sitka Music Festival, a 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit is Alaska's premier chamber music presenter with the mission of providing the finest classical music experience in Alaska through performance and education.
Summer Festival 2025 Opening at Mean Queen
Experience the 54th Sitka Summer Music Festival Opening Celebration! Enjoy world-class classical music and chamber music in an accessible atmosphere at the Mean Queen. Savor great food, drinks, and live performances in a relaxed setting. Doors open at 5 p.m., music starts at 6 p.m. Reserve your spot today for an unforgettable evening of music, food, and friends! 🎶
JACK Quartet | Sitka Premiere of John Luther Adams’s Never and Always Becoming
Experience the Sitka premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Luther Adams' Never and Always Becoming, performed by the JACK Quartet on May 16. This marks the second performance of Adams' String Quartet No. 9, following its world premiere in Juneau. Adams, who lived in Alaska from 1978 to 2014, served as a percussionist in the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra while our founder and first Artistic Director, Paul Rosenthal, performed as a soloist.
Anchorage Winter Classics - Concert 3
Galvin Cello Quarter with Victor Asuncion, piano
Popper, Polonaise de Concert - arr. Sebastian van Eck
Tchaikovsky, Andante Cantabile - arr. Ka-Wai Yu
Schumann, Fantasiestücke
Fauré, Romance
~ Intermission ~
Nobre, Poema Azevedo/Abreu - Brasileirinho/Tico-tico no Fubá
Wilkomirski, Ballada i Rapsodia
Composed of members from Brazil, South Korea, and the United States, the Galvin Cello Quartet burst onto the scene after capturing the Silver Medal at the 2021 Fischoff Competition, followed by winning the 2022 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition and joining the Concert Artists Guild roster. The Quartet takes its name from the Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music where three of its members – Sydney Lee, Haddon Kay, and Luiz Fernando Venturelli – met as students in the studio of acclaimed pedagogue Hans Jørgen Jensen. In June of 2024, the Quartet welcomed James Baik, another former student of Jensen, as their newest member.
With their untamable desire to create, change, and ultimately bring joy through music, the Galvin Cello Quartet is incredibly excited to explore and expand the possibilities of the cello quartet. Using the limitless range of a cello ensemble, the group's mission is to bring together new works from diverse cultural backgrounds while seeking to establish the cello quartet as a core part of the classical music world. The Galvin Cello Quartet embodies virtuosity, with each member bringing their own artistic nuance and acclaimed background to the ensemble. Recent and upcoming highlights include performances and residencies at Bravo! Vail, Ravinia, Ascent International Cello Festival, Newport Classical, Merkin Hall, and the Walton Arts Center.
Sydney Lee captured First Prize at the 2022 Washington International Competition and Second Prize at the Classic Strings International Competition in Dubai, as well as First Prize at the 10th Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition. She has performed in venues such as the Kennedy Center Palladium Center for the Performing Arts, Pittsburgh Symphony’s Heinz Hall, and Verizon Hall. Haddon Kay first debuted with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago as a finalist for the Chicago Symphony Young Artist Competition. Most recently, he captured Third Prize at the George Enescu International Competition and First Prize at the Luminarts and American Opera Society competitions.
Luiz Fernando Venturelli made his solo debut at the São Paulo Hall at the age of 9 and has since been featured as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the São Paulo State Symphony, the Goiás Philharmonic, and the Bahia Symphony. He has recently been a prizewinner in the Sphinx Competition, the Samuel and Elinor Thaviu String Competition, and the New York International Artists Association. Also a student of Hans Jørgen Jensen, James Baik is a First Prize winner of the 2023 Susan Wadsworth Young Concert Artists International Auditions and recipient of the Paul A. Fish Memorial Prize and the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Prize. He is a YCA Jacobs Fellow and has played chamber music at the Ravinia and Bridgehampton Festivals. He studies at the Colburn School under Clive Greensmith.
The Sitka Music Festival, a 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit is Alaska's premier chamber music presenter with the mission of providing the finest classical music experience in Alaska through performance and education. Winter Classics is presented in part by Alaska Airlines, The Atwood Foundation, University of Alaska Anchorage, GCI, Alaska State Council on the Arts, and the Sitka Music Festival Foundation.
Anchorage Winter Classics - Concert 2
Galvin Cello Quartet with Victor Asuncion, piano
Rossini, Une Larme
Saint-Saëns, The Swan
Beethoven, 12 Variations on a Theme from Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus - arr. Ka-Wai Yu
~ Intermission ~
Janacek, Pohadka
Coleridge Taylor / Perkinson - Lamentations
Elizondo, Danzas Latinoamericanas
Composed of members from Brazil, South Korea, and the United States, the Galvin Cello Quartet burst onto the scene after capturing the Silver Medal at the 2021 Fischoff Competition, followed by winning the 2022 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition and joining the Concert Artists Guild roster. The Quartet takes its name from the Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music where three of its members – Sydney Lee, Haddon Kay, and Luiz Fernando Venturelli – met as students in the studio of acclaimed pedagogue Hans Jørgen Jensen. In June of 2024, the Quartet welcomed James Baik, another former student of Jensen, as their newest member.
With their untamable desire to create, change, and ultimately bring joy through music, the Galvin Cello Quartet is incredibly excited to explore and expand the possibilities of the cello quartet. Using the limitless range of a cello ensemble, the group's mission is to bring together new works from diverse cultural backgrounds while seeking to establish the cello quartet as a core part of the classical music world. The Galvin Cello Quartet embodies virtuosity, with each member bringing their own artistic nuance and acclaimed background to the ensemble. Recent and upcoming highlights include performances and residencies at Bravo! Vail, Ravinia, Ascent International Cello Festival, Newport Classical, Merkin Hall, and the Walton Arts Center.
Sydney Lee captured First Prize at the 2022 Washington International Competition and Second Prize at the Classic Strings International Competition in Dubai, as well as First Prize at the 10th Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition. She has performed in venues such as the Kennedy Center Palladium Center for the Performing Arts, Pittsburgh Symphony’s Heinz Hall, and Verizon Hall. Haddon Kay first debuted with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago as a finalist for the Chicago Symphony Young Artist Competition. Most recently, he captured Third Prize at the George Enescu International Competition and First Prize at the Luminarts and American Opera Society competitions.
Luiz Fernando Venturelli made his solo debut at the São Paulo Hall at the age of 9 and has since been featured as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the São Paulo State Symphony, the Goiás Philharmonic, and the Bahia Symphony. He has recently been a prizewinner in the Sphinx Competition, the Samuel and Elinor Thaviu String Competition, and the New York International Artists Association. Also a student of Hans Jørgen Jensen, James Baik is a First Prize winner of the 2023 Susan Wadsworth Young Concert Artists International Auditions and recipient of the Paul A. Fish Memorial Prize and the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Prize. He is a YCA Jacobs Fellow and has played chamber music at the Ravinia and Bridgehampton Festivals. He studies at the Colburn School under Clive Greensmith.
The Sitka Music Festival, a 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit is Alaska's premier chamber music presenter with the mission of providing the finest classical music experience in Alaska through performance and education. Winter Classics is presented in part by Alaska Airlines, The Atwood Foundation, University of Alaska Anchorage, GCI, Alaska State Council on the Arts, and the Sitka Music Festival Foundation.
Anchorage Winter Classics - Concert 1
The Galvin Cello Quartet
with
Zuill Bailey, cello & Victor Asuncion, piano
Paganini, Variations on a Theme by Rossini (“Moses”)
Forino, Preghiere for Cello Quartet, Op. 27, No. 3
Vivaldi, Winter from Four Seasons
Fauré, Sicilienne
~ Intermission ~
Menotti, Suite for 2 Cellos and Piano
Popper, Requiem
Debussy, Reverie
Composed of members from Brazil, South Korea, and the United States, the Galvin Cello Quartet burst onto the scene after capturing the Silver Medal at the 2021 Fischoff Competition, followed by winning the 2022 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition and joining the Concert Artists Guild roster. The Quartet takes its name from the Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music where three of its members – Sydney Lee, Haddon Kay, and Luiz Fernando Venturelli – met as students in the studio of acclaimed pedagogue Hans Jørgen Jensen. In June of 2024, the Quartet welcomed James Baik, another former student of Jensen, as their newest member.
With their untamable desire to create, change, and ultimately bring joy through music, the Galvin Cello Quartet is incredibly excited to explore and expand the possibilities of the cello quartet. Using the limitless range of a cello ensemble, the group's mission is to bring together new works from diverse cultural backgrounds while seeking to establish the cello quartet as a core part of the classical music world. The Galvin Cello Quartet embodies virtuosity, with each member bringing their own artistic nuance and acclaimed background to the ensemble. Recent and upcoming highlights include performances and residencies at Bravo! Vail, Ravinia, Ascent International Cello Festival, Newport Classical, Merkin Hall, and the Walton Arts Center.
Sydney Lee captured First Prize at the 2022 Washington International Competition and Second Prize at the Classic Strings International Competition in Dubai, as well as First Prize at the 10th Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition. She has performed in venues such as the Kennedy Center Palladium Center for the Performing Arts, Pittsburgh Symphony’s Heinz Hall, and Verizon Hall. Haddon Kay first debuted with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago as a finalist for the Chicago Symphony Young Artist Competition. Most recently, he captured Third Prize at the George Enescu International Competition and First Prize at the Luminarts and American Opera Society competitions.
Luiz Fernando Venturelli made his solo debut at the São Paulo Hall at the age of 9 and has since been featured as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the São Paulo State Symphony, the Goiás Philharmonic, and the Bahia Symphony. He has recently been a prizewinner in the Sphinx Competition, the Samuel and Elinor Thaviu String Competition, and the New York International Artists Association. Also a student of Hans Jørgen Jensen, James Baik is a First Prize winner of the 2023 Susan Wadsworth Young Concert Artists International Auditions and recipient of the Paul A. Fish Memorial Prize and the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Prize. He is a YCA Jacobs Fellow and has played chamber music at the Ravinia and Bridgehampton Festivals. He studies at the Colburn School under Clive Greensmith.
The Sitka Music Festival, a 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit is Alaska's premier chamber music presenter with the mission of providing the finest classical music experience in Alaska through performance and education. Winter Classics is presented in part by Alaska Airlines, The Atwood Foundation, University of Alaska Anchorage, GCI, Alaska State Council on the Arts, and the Sitka Music Festival Foundation.
Galvin Cello Quartet in Wasilla
Program:
Galvin Cello Quartet
Voice of the Cello
James Baik | Haddon Kay | Sydney Lee | Luiz Venturelli
Variations on a Theme by Rossini - Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840) (arr. Galvin Cello Quartet)
The Swan from Carnival of the Animals - Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) (arr. Galvin Cello Quartet)
12 Variations on a Theme from Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus - Ludvig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (arr. Kai-Wai Yu)
Une Larme (arr. Laszio Varga) - Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)
Ballada I Rapsodia - Kazimierz Wiłkomirski (1900-1995)
Andante Cantabile - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Concert Polonaise, Op. 14 - David Popper (1843-1914) (arr. Sebastian van Eck)
Composed of members from Brazil, South Korea, and the United States, the Galvin Cello Quartet burst onto the scene after capturing the Silver Medal at the 2021 Fischoff Competition, followed by winning the 2022 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition and joining the Concert Artists Guild roster. The Quartet takes its name from the Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music where three of its members – Sydney Lee, Haddon Kay, and Luiz Fernando Venturelli – met as students in the studio of acclaimed pedagogue Hans Jørgen Jensen. In June of 2024, the Quartet welcomed James Baik, another former student of Jensen, as their newest member.
With their untamable desire to create, change, and ultimately bring joy through music, the Galvin Cello Quartet is incredibly excited to explore and expand the possibilities of the cello quartet. Using the limitless range of a cello ensemble, the group's mission is to bring together new works from diverse cultural backgrounds while seeking to establish the cello quartet as a core part of the classical music world. The Galvin Cello Quartet embodies virtuosity, with each member bringing their own artistic nuance and acclaimed background to the ensemble. Recent and upcoming highlights include performances and residencies at Bravo! Vail, Ravinia, Ascent International Cello Festival, Newport Classical, Merkin Hall, and the Walton Arts Center.
Sydney Lee captured First Prize at the 2022 Washington International Competition and Second Prize at the Classic Strings International Competition in Dubai, as well as First Prize at the 10th Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition. She has performed in venues such as the Kennedy Center Palladium Center for the Performing Arts, Pittsburgh Symphony’s Heinz Hall, and Verizon Hall. Haddon Kay first debuted with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago as a finalist for the Chicago Symphony Young Artist Competition. Most recently, he captured Third Prize at the George Enescu International Competition and First Prize at the Luminarts and American Opera Society competitions.
Luiz Fernando Venturelli made his solo debut at the São Paulo Hall at the age of 9 and has since been featured as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the São Paulo State Symphony, the Goiás Philharmonic, and the Bahia Symphony. He has recently been a prizewinner in the Sphinx Competition, the Samuel and Elinor Thaviu String Competition, and the New York International Artists Association. Also a student of Hans Jørgen Jensen, James Baik is a First Prize winner of the 2023 Susan Wadsworth Young Concert Artists International Auditions and recipient of the Paul A. Fish Memorial Prize and the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Prize. He is a YCA Jacobs Fellow and has played chamber music at the Ravinia and Bridgehampton Festivals. He studies at the Colburn School under Clive Greensmith.
The Sitka Music Festival, a 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit is Alaska's premier chamber music presenter with the mission of providing the finest classical music experience in Alaska through performance and education. Winter Classics is presented in part by Alaska Airlines, The Atwood Foundation, University of Alaska Anchorage, GCI, Alaska State Council on the Arts, and the Sitka Music Festival Foundation.
Winterlude in Sitka with The Galvin Cello Quartet
Join us for our second annual “Winterlude” at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy light fare paired with prosecco and wine, followed by an intimate, candlelit performance by the award-winning Galvin Cello Quartet. This event always sells out, so be sure to get your tickets early!
Program:
Galvin Cello Quartet
Voice of the Cello
James Baik | Haddon Kay | Sydney Lee | Luiz Venturelli
Variations on a Theme by Rossini - Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840) (arr. Galvin Cello Quartet)
The Swan from Carnival of the Animals - Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) (arr. Galvin Cello Quartet)
12 Variations on a Theme from Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus - Ludvig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (arr. Kai-Wai Yu)
Une Larme (arr. Laszio Varga) - Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)
Ballada I Rapsodia - Kazimierz Wiłkomirski (1900-1995)
Andante Cantabile - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Concert Polonaise, Op. 14 - David Popper (1843-1914) (arr. Sebastian van Eck)
Composed of members from Brazil, South Korea, and the United States, the Galvin Cello Quartet burst onto the scene after capturing the Silver Medal at the 2021 Fischoff Competition, followed by winning the 2022 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition and joining the Concert Artists Guild roster. The Quartet takes its name from the Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music where three of its members – Sydney Lee, Haddon Kay, and Luiz Fernando Venturelli – met as students in the studio of acclaimed pedagogue Hans Jørgen Jensen. In June of 2024, the Quartet welcomed James Baik, another former student of Jensen, as their newest member.
With their untamable desire to create, change, and ultimately bring joy through music, the Galvin Cello Quartet is incredibly excited to explore and expand the possibilities of the cello quartet. Using the limitless range of a cello ensemble, the group's mission is to bring together new works from diverse cultural backgrounds while seeking to establish the cello quartet as a core part of the classical music world. The Galvin Cello Quartet embodies virtuosity, with each member bringing their own artistic nuance and acclaimed background to the ensemble. Recent and upcoming highlights include performances and residencies at Bravo! Vail, Ravinia, Ascent International Cello Festival, Newport Classical, Merkin Hall, and the Walton Arts Center.
Sydney Lee captured First Prize at the 2022 Washington International Competition and Second Prize at the Classic Strings International Competition in Dubai, as well as First Prize at the 10th Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition. She has performed in venues such as the Kennedy Center Palladium Center for the Performing Arts, Pittsburgh Symphony’s Heinz Hall, and Verizon Hall. Haddon Kay first debuted with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago as a finalist for the Chicago Symphony Young Artist Competition. Most recently, he captured Third Prize at the George Enescu International Competition and First Prize at the Luminarts and American Opera Society competitions.
Luiz Fernando Venturelli made his solo debut at the São Paulo Hall at the age of 9 and has since been featured as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the São Paulo State Symphony, the Goiás Philharmonic, and the Bahia Symphony. He has recently been a prizewinner in the Sphinx Competition, the Samuel and Elinor Thaviu String Competition, and the New York International Artists Association. Also a student of Hans Jørgen Jensen, James Baik is a First Prize winner of the 2023 Susan Wadsworth Young Concert Artists International Auditions and recipient of the Paul A. Fish Memorial Prize and the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Prize. He is a YCA Jacobs Fellow and has played chamber music at the Ravinia and Bridgehampton Festivals. He studies at the Colburn School under Clive Greensmith.
The Sitka Music Festival, a 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit is Alaska's premier chamber music presenter with the mission of providing the finest classical music experience in Alaska through performance and education. Winter Classics is presented in part by Alaska Airlines, The Atwood Foundation, University of Alaska Anchorage, GCI, Alaska State Council on the Arts, and the Sitka Music Festival Foundation.
Galvin Cello Quartet in Ketchikan
Program:
Galvin Cello Quartet
Voice of the Cello
James Baik | Haddon Kay | Sydney Lee | Luiz Venturelli
Variations on a Theme by Rossini - Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840) (arr. Galvin Cello Quartet)
The Swan from Carnival of the Animals - Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) (arr. Galvin Cello Quartet)
12 Variations on a Theme from Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus - Ludvig van Beethoven (1770-1827) (arr. Kai-Wai Yu)
Une Larme (arr. Laszio Varga) - Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)
Ballada I Rapsodia - Kazimierz Wiłkomirski (1900-1995)
Andante Cantabile - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Concert Polonaise, Op. 14 - David Popper (1843-1914) (arr. Sebastian van Eck)
Composed of members from Brazil, South Korea, and the United States, the Galvin Cello Quartet burst onto the scene after capturing the Silver Medal at the 2021 Fischoff Competition, followed by winning the 2022 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition and joining the Concert Artists Guild roster. The Quartet takes its name from the Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music where three of its members – Sydney Lee, Haddon Kay, and Luiz Fernando Venturelli – met as students in the studio of acclaimed pedagogue Hans Jørgen Jensen. In June of 2024, the Quartet welcomed James Baik, another former student of Jensen, as their newest member.
With their untamable desire to create, change, and ultimately bring joy through music, the Galvin Cello Quartet is incredibly excited to explore and expand the possibilities of the cello quartet. Using the limitless range of a cello ensemble, the group's mission is to bring together new works from diverse cultural backgrounds while seeking to establish the cello quartet as a core part of the classical music world. The Galvin Cello Quartet embodies virtuosity, with each member bringing their own artistic nuance and acclaimed background to the ensemble. Recent and upcoming highlights include performances and residencies at Bravo! Vail, Ravinia, Ascent International Cello Festival, Newport Classical, Merkin Hall, and the Walton Arts Center.
Sydney Lee captured First Prize at the 2022 Washington International Competition and Second Prize at the Classic Strings International Competition in Dubai, as well as First Prize at the 10th Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition. She has performed in venues such as the Kennedy Center Palladium Center for the Performing Arts, Pittsburgh Symphony’s Heinz Hall, and Verizon Hall. Haddon Kay first debuted with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago as a finalist for the Chicago Symphony Young Artist Competition. Most recently, he captured Third Prize at the George Enescu International Competition and First Prize at the Luminarts and American Opera Society competitions.
Luiz Fernando Venturelli made his solo debut at the São Paulo Hall at the age of 9 and has since been featured as a soloist with numerous orchestras, including the São Paulo State Symphony, the Goiás Philharmonic, and the Bahia Symphony. He has recently been a prizewinner in the Sphinx Competition, the Samuel and Elinor Thaviu String Competition, and the New York International Artists Association. Also a student of Hans Jørgen Jensen, James Baik is a First Prize winner of the 2023 Susan Wadsworth Young Concert Artists International Auditions and recipient of the Paul A. Fish Memorial Prize and the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Prize. He is a YCA Jacobs Fellow and has played chamber music at the Ravinia and Bridgehampton Festivals. He studies at the Colburn School under Clive Greensmith.
The Sitka Music Festival, a 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit is Alaska's premier chamber music presenter with the mission of providing the finest classical music experience in Alaska through performance and education. Winter Classics is presented in part by Alaska Airlines, The Atwood Foundation, University of Alaska Anchorage, GCI, Alaska State Council on the Arts, and the Sitka Music Festival Foundation.
Sitka Music Festival: Serving Alaska Year-Round with Exceptional Classical Music.
The Sitka Music Festival is Alaska’s premier year-round chamber music presenter, offering a diverse range of concerts and events across the state. Under the artistic direction of GRAMMY-winning cellist Zuill Bailey, we bring world-class classical music to communities from Anchorage to Ketchikan, with a special focus on educational outreach and community engagement. In 2023, we presented 79 events, more than half of which were free to the public. Our Summer Festival in Sitka continues to be a highlight, featuring four weeks of performances, including at least one free concert each week, and the Sitka International Cello Seminar in July, which showcases both guest artists and talented fellows.
We invite you to experience the beauty and intimacy of chamber music and the vibrant community we’ve built around it. Whether you’re attending for the first time or are a long-time fan, we welcome you to join us at our next event and discover the joy of world-class music in your own backyard.
In addition to the summer festival, we host two major concert series each year: Autumn Classics in September and Winter Classics in February. These series typically include several subcription concerts and are presented in Anchorage, Ketchikan, Sitka, and Wasilla. We also bring professional classical music performances to at least three other Alaskan communities annually, thanks to the support of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Alaska State Council on the Arts, and the Atwood Foundation. Through collaborations with local arts organizations, schools, and borough governments, we have brought music to 42 communities across Alaska, from Selawik to Port Alexander.
A Rich History of Excellence and Innovation
Founded in 1972 by Paul Rosenthal, the Sitka Music Festival quickly gained a reputation as a leading chamber music event, attracting legendary musicians such as Gregor Piatigorsky by 1974. Legend has it that the Sitka Music Festival was one of the first "destination" music festivals of its kind, offering both exceptional music and the allure of the stunning Alaskan landscape. Articles about the festival were featured in prestigious publications such as The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times, further cementing its national reputation.
Over the years, the festival has grown from a summer-only event into a year-round cultural institution, expanding its offerings to include educational programs, outreach initiatives, and performances across Alaska. In 2021, we rebranded to better reflect this broader vision, dropping "summer" from our name and emphasizing our year-round presence in the state.
We’re proud to continue the legacy of excellence, passion, and community that Paul Rosenthal envisioned over 50 years ago. Whether performing in the grandest concert halls or the smallest Alaskan communities, our commitment remains the same: to bring the beauty of chamber music to as many people as possible and to inspire the next generation of musicians and music lovers across Alaska. Join us at our next concert and be part of this ongoing musical journey!