America at 250: Alaska Premiere of Visions of Humanity, Bernstein, Joplin & More*

*This concert is supported in part by a grant from the Alaska State Council on the Arts and the NEA America 250 program

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893) Andante cantabile (from String Quartet No. 1 in D major, Op. 11; arranged for cello and strings)

Zuill Bailey, cello

Ulysses Quartet

America 250 Chamber Premiere Visions of Humanity and Unity

Zuill Bailey, cello

Ulysses Quartet

Dominic Dousa, piano

I. Repeated Petitions – Avner Dorman (b. 1975)

II. Fiddler Coming Home – Mark O’Connor (b. 1961)

III. Elegy – Zhou Tian (b. 1981)

IV. Intermezzo – Chanda Dancy (b. 1978)

V. Alebrije – Enrico Chapela (b. 1974)

— Intermission —

Luigi Boccherini (1743–1805) Cello Quintet in C major Ulysses String Quartet Zuill Bailey, cello

Jessie Montgomery (b. 1981)Voodoo Dolls (c. 5')

Christina Bouey Soul (c. 7')

Scott Joplin (1868–1917), arr. Banerdt Maple Leaf Rag (c. 3')

Traditional, arr. Fedkenheuer Orange Blossom Special (c. 3')

Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990), arr. Bouey Themes from West Side Story (c. 3')

Ulysses Quartet

Zuill Bailey, widely considered one of the premiere cellists in the world, is a Grammy Award winning, internationally renowned soloist, recitalist, Artistic Director and teacher.  His rare combination of celebrated artistry, technical wizardry and engaging personality has made him one of the most sought after and active cellists today.

Mr. Bailey has been featured with symphony orchestras and music festivals worldwide.  He won the Best Solo Performance Grammy Award in 2017, for his recording of  Michael Daugherty’s “Tales of Hemingway,” with the Nashville Symphony led by Giancarlo Guerrero.  His extensive discography includes his newest release – the world premier recording of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Cello Concerto with the Santa Rosa Symphony. In 2021 he released his second recording of the Bach Cello Suites for PS Audio’s Octave Records label, recorded and mixed in stereo and multichannel sound.

He appeared in a recurring role on the HBO series “Oz,” and has been heard on NPR’s “Morning Edition,” “Tiny Desk Concert,” “Performance Today,” “Saint Paul Sunday,” BBC’s  “In Tune,” XM Radio’s “Live from Studio II,” Sirius Satellite Radio’s “Virtuoso Voices,” and his latest disc of Bach Suites was the disc of the week on Sirius’ Symphony Hall.

Mr. Bailey received his Bachelor’s Degree from the Peabody Conservatory where he was named the 2014 Johns Hopkins University Distinguished Alumni, and received a Master’s Degree from the Juilliard School.  He performs on the “rosette” 1693 Matteo Gofriller Cello formerly owned by Mischa Schneider of the Budapest String Quartet.

He is the Artistic Director of El Paso Pro-Musica (Texas), the Sitka Summer Music Festival/Series and Cello Seminar, (Alaska), Juneau Jazz and Classics, (Alaska), the Northwest Bach Festival (Washington),  Classical Inside Out Series- Mesa Arts Center (Arizona) and is Director of the Center for Arts Entrepreneurship and Professor of Cello at the University of Texas at El Paso

The Ulysses Quartet has been praised for their “textural versatility…grave beauty….the kind of chemistry many quartets long for, but rarely achieve”  by The Strad.

Founded in the summer of 2015, the group won the grand prize and gold medal of the 2016 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and first prize in the 2018 Schoenfeld International String Competition. In 2017, the quartet finished first in the American Prize and won second prize at the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition. They were winners of the Vietnam International Music Competition in 2019. Ulysses garnered a career development grant in the 2016 Banff International String Quartet Competition. 

The quartet’s has performed in such prestigious halls as Carnegie Hall, Jordan Hall, and the Taiwan National Recital Hall. Performance highlights have included their debut at Alice Tully Hall, and appearances at the Chautauqua Institution, Buffalo Chamber Music Society, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Bilbao Philharmonic Society, Picasso Museumand Fundación March in Madrid, Teatro Mayor de Bogotá, Sociedad Filarmónica de Lima, Hong Kong Premiere Performances, Beijing Modern Music Festival, Campo do Jordão Festival in Brazil, Basel Kammermusik, the Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall in Istanbul, Yale School of Music, Music Mountain Festival, and the San Juan Chamber Music Festival,.

In 2023, the Ulysses Quartet became GBH Music’s first-ever quartet in residence, made possible by a generous contribution from the Mattina R. Proctor Foundation. Recent visiting residencies have included Louisiana State University, Louis Moreau Institute in New Orleans, Ithaca College, Syracuse University, and Bucknell University. At Juilliard from 2019 to 2022, they were the Lisa Arnhold Fellows, serving as Graduate Resident String Quartet for 3 years.

Ulysses recently released their debut album, “Shades of Romani Folklore,” on the Navona label and 2 collaborative albums: “Sea Change Quartets” by Grammy-nominated composer Joseph Summer, and “A Giant Beside You” with guitarist Benjamin Verdery.

The Ulysses Quartet believes intensely in the power of music to inspire, enlighten and bring people together.

The members of Ulysses hold degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, Boston Conservatory, the Juilliard School, and University of North Texas.

Dominic Dousa, a native of Rochester, Minnesota, has been a member of the faculty at the University of Texas at El Paso Department of Music since 2004.  He holds degrees in music from Ball State University (D.A.), Central Michigan University (M.M.), and Harvard University (A.B. summa cum laude), and in statistics from Iowa State University (M.S.), and has also studied composition in Prague.  His primary composition teachers include Jody Nagel, David Gillingham, Craig Weston, and Milan Slavický.  At UTEP, Dousa teaches courses in music theory and composition and has been the director of the Department of Music’s graduate program since 2014.

Dousa’s compositions have received performances at recitals, festivals, and conferences in the U.S. and in 16 countries worldwide.  Blue Griffin Recording has released two CDs of Dousa’s chamber music, including A Musical Portrait of the American Southwest, which features UTEP faculty member Stephen Nordstrom on viola and Dousa at the piano.  This recording has received critical acclaim in Gramophonemagazine and American Record Guide. 

As a collaborative pianist and chamber musician, Dousa has performed in numerous recitals with faculty, guest artists, and students, including presentations with his fellow UTEP faculty member, world-renowned cellist and 2017 Grammy-award winner Zuill Bailey.  He has also worked with UTEP Professor of Mathematical Sciences Larry Lesser on a grant project sponsored by the National Science Foundation involving teaching statistics through educational songs.

About the Sitka Music Festival The Sitka Music Festival (SMF) inspires audiences, sparks creativity, and strengthens community across Alaska through world-class chamber music performances, education, and artist training. For 55 years, SMF has presented classical music at the highest artistic standards. Festival musicians have traveled to more than 40 Alaskan communities, including remote villages off the road system, sharing music with audiences who might not otherwise experience live chamber music at this level. In turn, visiting artists are enriched by the deep cultural traditions and unique landscapes of Alaska. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, SMF remains committed to bringing exceptional music experiences to communities statewide.

Songs, Serenades & the Elgar

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) Duo in G major, K. 423 (originally for violin and viola; arranged for violin and cello)

Yuriy Bekker, violin

Zuill Bailey, cello

I. Allegro

II. Adagio

III. Rondeau: Allegro

Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897–1957) Marietta’s Lied from Die tote Stadt Tanzlied des Pierrot from Die tote Stadt

Aaron Copland (1900–1990) Nocturne Ukelele Serenade (from Two Pieces for Violin and Piano, 1926)

Yuriy Bekker, violin

Dominic Dousa, piano

— Intermission —

Edward Elgar (1857–1934) Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85

Zuill Bailey, cello

Dominic Dousa, piano

I. Adagio – Moderato

II. Lento – Allegro molto

III. Adagio

IV. Allegro – Moderato – Allegro, ma non troppo

Zuill Bailey, widely considered one of the premiere cellists in the world, is a Grammy Award winning, internationally renowned soloist, recitalist, Artistic Director and teacher.  His rare combination of celebrated artistry, technical wizardry and engaging personality has made him one of the most sought after and active cellists today.

Mr. Bailey has been featured with symphony orchestras and music festivals worldwide.  He won the Best Solo Performance Grammy Award in 2017, for his recording of  Michael Daugherty’s “Tales of Hemingway,” with the Nashville Symphony led by Giancarlo Guerrero.  His extensive discography includes his newest release – the world premier recording of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Cello Concerto with the Santa Rosa Symphony. In 2021 he released his second recording of the Bach Cello Suites for PS Audio’s Octave Records label, recorded and mixed in stereo and multichannel sound.

He appeared in a recurring role on the HBO series “Oz,” and has been heard on NPR’s “Morning Edition,” “Tiny Desk Concert,” “Performance Today,” “Saint Paul Sunday,” BBC’s  “In Tune,” XM Radio’s “Live from Studio II,” Sirius Satellite Radio’s “Virtuoso Voices,” and his latest disc of Bach Suites was the disc of the week on Sirius’ Symphony Hall.

Mr. Bailey received his Bachelor’s Degree from the Peabody Conservatory where he was named the 2014 Johns Hopkins University Distinguished Alumni, and received a Master’s Degree from the Juilliard School.  He performs on the “rosette” 1693 Matteo Gofriller Cello formerly owned by Mischa Schneider of the Budapest String Quartet.

He is the Artistic Director of El Paso Pro-Musica (Texas), the Sitka Summer Music Festival and Cello Seminar, Juneau Jazz and Classics, (Alaska), the Northwest Bach Festival (Washington),  Classical Inside Out Series- Mesa Arts Center (Arizona) and is Director of the Center for Arts Entrepreneurship and Professor of Cello at the University of Texas at El Paso

Yuriy Bekker is a critically acclaimed conductor, violinist, and passionate community ambassador. He has led the Charleston Symphony Orchestra as Artistic Director since 2021, while concurrently serving as Concertmaster since 2007 and Principal Pops Conductor since 2016. Bekker previously served as the orchestra’s Acting Artistic Director from 2010 to 2014 and has long demonstrated vision and dedication to the CSO. In 2011, he received the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award from the City of Charleston in recognition of his cultural contributions to the community.

Bekker is currently Distinguished Professor of Practice at the College of Charleston School of the Arts (CofC), serving as Director of the College of Charleston Orchestra, where he has engaged internationally renowned soloists such as Augustin Hadelich and Sarah Chang, leading to sold-out performances. In 2023, Bekker led the CofC Orchestra on its first tour, culminating in a Kennedy Center debut. He previously served as Music Director of the Piccolo Spoleto Festival’s Spotlight Chamber Music Series and is co-founder of the Charleston Chamber Music Intensive, a summer program for high school and college-aged musicians. During the summer, he also regularly serves on the faculty of both the Gingold Chamber Music Festival in Miami, FL and the Nelli Shkolnikova Academy in the Loire Valley, France.

In 2025, a multi-year initiative reached its peak when the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Charleston Youth Symphony, and College of Charleston Orchestra shared the stage at Carnegie Hall in a gala celebrating Charleston’s vibrant cultural community — and marking Maestro Bekker’s Carnegie conducting debut. His vision, fundraising, and tireless advocacy made this extraordinary evening possible.

Yuriy Bekker has performed internationally as a guest concertmaster, chamber musician, conductor, and soloist. He has served as concertmaster of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and the AIMS Festival in Graz, Austria, and has held positions with the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, and Houston Ballet. In addition to performing over a dozen violin concerti with the CSO, he has also appeared as guest concertmaster with the Vancouver Symphony, Ulster Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, and Kansas City Symphony. His festival and venue appearances include the European Music Festival (Stuttgart), Pacific Music Festival (Japan), Spoleto Festival USA, Aspen Music Festival, The Kennedy Center, Chicago Chamber Music Society, and many others across the U.S. and abroad.

From the podium and in chamber settings, he has collaborated with artists including Itzhak Perlman, Augustin Hadelich, Gil Shaham, Sarah Chang, Joshua Roman, Alexander Kerr, Andres Cardenes, Robert DeMaine, and Ilya Kaler. As Principal Pops Conductor of the CSO, he has led performances with celebrated entertainers such as Ben Folds, Tony DeSare, Ellis Hall, Ranky Tanky, and Cirque de la Symphonie.

Bekker is a passionate champion of contemporary music. He has recorded new works by Edward Hart and Thomas Cabaniss to critical acclaim. His recording of Hart’s Under an Indigo Sky reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s Classical Albums chart. His debut CD, Twentieth Century Duos, received international praise and a nomination for the International Classical Music Awards.

Bekker earned a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory as a student of Herbert Greenberg. He also holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the Indiana University School of Music, where he studied violin with Nelli Shkolnikova and Ilya Kaler. His conducting teachers and mentors have been Christopher Wilkins, David Zinman, Imre Palló, and David Effron.

Born in Minsk, Belarus, Yuriy Bekker is now a proud U.S. citizen, husband to his wife, Jenny, and father to their children, Nathanael and Charlotte. He performs on the 1638 Franz Degen Andrea Guarneri violin, generously on loan from an anonymous patron.

Dominic Dousa, a native of Rochester, Minnesota, has been a member of the faculty at the University of Texas at El Paso Department of Music since 2004.  He holds degrees in music from Ball State University (D.A.), Central Michigan University (M.M.), and Harvard University (A.B. summa cum laude), and in statistics from Iowa State University (M.S.), and has also studied composition in Prague.  His primary composition teachers include Jody Nagel, David Gillingham, Craig Weston, and Milan Slavický.  At UTEP, Dousa teaches courses in music theory and composition and has been the director of the Department of Music’s graduate program since 2014.

Dousa’s compositions have received performances at recitals, festivals, and conferences in the U.S. and in 16 countries worldwide.  Blue Griffin Recording has released two CDs of Dousa’s chamber music, including A Musical Portrait of the American Southwest, which features UTEP faculty member Stephen Nordstrom on viola and Dousa at the piano.  This recording has received critical acclaim in Gramophonemagazine and American Record Guide. 

As a collaborative pianist and chamber musician, Dousa has performed in numerous recitals with faculty, guest artists, and students, including presentations with his fellow UTEP faculty member, world-renowned cellist and 2017 Grammy-award winner Zuill Bailey.  He has also worked with UTEP Professor of Mathematical Sciences Larry Lesser on a grant project sponsored by the National Science Foundation involving teaching statistics through educational songs.

About the Sitka Music Festival The Sitka Music Festival (SMF) inspires audiences, sparks creativity, and strengthens community across Alaska through world-class chamber music performances, education, and artist training. For 55 years, SMF has presented classical music at the highest artistic standards. Festival musicians have traveled to more than 40 Alaskan communities, including remote villages off the road system, sharing music with audiences who might not otherwise experience live chamber music at this level. In turn, visiting artists are enriched by the deep cultural traditions and unique landscapes of Alaska. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, SMF remains committed to bringing exceptional music experiences to communities statewide.

Concerto Night: Brahms Double Concerto & More in Anchorage

Henri Dutilleux (1916–2013)Tout un monde lointain… (“A Whole Distant World…”) for cello and piano (c. 30')

Zuill Bailey, cello

Dominic Dousa, piano

I. Énigme

II. Regard

III. Houles

IV. Miroirs

V. Hymne

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)The Lark Ascending for violin and piano (c. 15')

Yuriy Bekker, violin

Dominic Dousa, piano

— Intermission —

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) Double Concerto in A minor, Op. 102 (for violin, cello, and piano) (c. 38') Yuriy Bekker, violin

Zuill Bailey, cello

Dominic Dousa, piano

I. Allegro

II. Andante

III. Vivace non troppo

Zuill Bailey, widely considered one of the premiere cellists in the world, is a Grammy Award winning, internationally renowned soloist, recitalist, Artistic Director and teacher.  His rare combination of celebrated artistry, technical wizardry and engaging personality has made him one of the most sought after and active cellists today.

Mr. Bailey has been featured with symphony orchestras and music festivals worldwide.  He won the Best Solo Performance Grammy Award in 2017, for his recording of  Michael Daugherty’s “Tales of Hemingway,” with the Nashville Symphony led by Giancarlo Guerrero.  His extensive discography includes his newest release – the world premier recording of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Cello Concerto with the Santa Rosa Symphony. In 2021 he released his second recording of the Bach Cello Suites for PS Audio’s Octave Records label, recorded and mixed in stereo and multichannel sound.

He appeared in a recurring role on the HBO series “Oz,” and has been heard on NPR’s “Morning Edition,” “Tiny Desk Concert,” “Performance Today,” “Saint Paul Sunday,” BBC’s  “In Tune,” XM Radio’s “Live from Studio II,” Sirius Satellite Radio’s “Virtuoso Voices,” and his latest disc of Bach Suites was the disc of the week on Sirius’ Symphony Hall.

Mr. Bailey received his Bachelor’s Degree from the Peabody Conservatory where he was named the 2014 Johns Hopkins University Distinguished Alumni, and received a Master’s Degree from the Juilliard School.  He performs on the “rosette” 1693 Matteo Gofriller Cello formerly owned by Mischa Schneider of the Budapest String Quartet.

He is the Artistic Director of El Paso Pro-Musica (Texas), the Sitka Summer Music Festival and Cello Seminar, Juneau Jazz and Classics, (Alaska), the Northwest Bach Festival (Washington),  Classical Inside Out Series- Mesa Arts Center (Arizona) and is Director of the Center for Arts Entrepreneurship and Professor of Cello at the University of Texas at El Paso

Yuriy Bekker is a critically acclaimed conductor, violinist, and passionate community ambassador. He has led the Charleston Symphony Orchestra as Artistic Director since 2021, while concurrently serving as Concertmaster since 2007 and Principal Pops Conductor since 2016. Bekker previously served as the orchestra’s Acting Artistic Director from 2010 to 2014 and has long demonstrated vision and dedication to the CSO. In 2011, he received the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award from the City of Charleston in recognition of his cultural contributions to the community.

Bekker is currently Distinguished Professor of Practice at the College of Charleston School of the Arts (CofC), serving as Director of the College of Charleston Orchestra, where he has engaged internationally renowned soloists such as Augustin Hadelich and Sarah Chang, leading to sold-out performances. In 2023, Bekker led the CofC Orchestra on its first tour, culminating in a Kennedy Center debut. He previously served as Music Director of the Piccolo Spoleto Festival’s Spotlight Chamber Music Series and is co-founder of the Charleston Chamber Music Intensive, a summer program for high school and college-aged musicians. During the summer, he also regularly serves on the faculty of both the Gingold Chamber Music Festival in Miami, FL and the Nelli Shkolnikova Academy in the Loire Valley, France.

In 2025, a multi-year initiative reached its peak when the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Charleston Youth Symphony, and College of Charleston Orchestra shared the stage at Carnegie Hall in a gala celebrating Charleston’s vibrant cultural community — and marking Maestro Bekker’s Carnegie conducting debut. His vision, fundraising, and tireless advocacy made this extraordinary evening possible.

Yuriy Bekker has performed internationally as a guest concertmaster, chamber musician, conductor, and soloist. He has served as concertmaster of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and the AIMS Festival in Graz, Austria, and has held positions with the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, and Houston Ballet. In addition to performing over a dozen violin concerti with the CSO, he has also appeared as guest concertmaster with the Vancouver Symphony, Ulster Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, and Kansas City Symphony. His festival and venue appearances include the European Music Festival (Stuttgart), Pacific Music Festival (Japan), Spoleto Festival USA, Aspen Music Festival, The Kennedy Center, Chicago Chamber Music Society, and many others across the U.S. and abroad.

From the podium and in chamber settings, he has collaborated with artists including Itzhak Perlman, Augustin Hadelich, Gil Shaham, Sarah Chang, Joshua Roman, Alexander Kerr, Andres Cardenes, Robert DeMaine, and Ilya Kaler. As Principal Pops Conductor of the CSO, he has led performances with celebrated entertainers such as Ben Folds, Tony DeSare, Ellis Hall, Ranky Tanky, and Cirque de la Symphonie.

Bekker is a passionate champion of contemporary music. He has recorded new works by Edward Hart and Thomas Cabaniss to critical acclaim. His recording of Hart’s Under an Indigo Sky reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s Classical Albums chart. His debut CD, Twentieth Century Duos, received international praise and a nomination for the International Classical Music Awards.

Bekker earned a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory as a student of Herbert Greenberg. He also holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the Indiana University School of Music, where he studied violin with Nelli Shkolnikova and Ilya Kaler. His conducting teachers and mentors have been Christopher Wilkins, David Zinman, Imre Palló, and David Effron.

Born in Minsk, Belarus, Yuriy Bekker is now a proud U.S. citizen, husband to his wife, Jenny, and father to their children, Nathanael and Charlotte. He performs on the 1638 Franz Degen Andrea Guarneri violin, generously on loan from an anonymous patron.

Dominic Dousa, a native of Rochester, Minnesota, has been a member of the faculty at the University of Texas at El Paso Department of Music since 2004.  He holds degrees in music from Ball State University (D.A.), Central Michigan University (M.M.), and Harvard University (A.B. summa cum laude), and in statistics from Iowa State University (M.S.), and has also studied composition in Prague.  His primary composition teachers include Jody Nagel, David Gillingham, Craig Weston, and Milan Slavický.  At UTEP, Dousa teaches courses in music theory and composition and has been the director of the Department of Music’s graduate program since 2014.

Dousa’s compositions have received performances at recitals, festivals, and conferences in the U.S. and in 16 countries worldwide.  Blue Griffin Recording has released two CDs of Dousa’s chamber music, including A Musical Portrait of the American Southwest, which features UTEP faculty member Stephen Nordstrom on viola and Dousa at the piano.  This recording has received critical acclaim in Gramophonemagazine and American Record Guide. 

As a collaborative pianist and chamber musician, Dousa has performed in numerous recitals with faculty, guest artists, and students, including presentations with his fellow UTEP faculty member, world-renowned cellist and 2017 Grammy-award winner Zuill Bailey.  He has also worked with UTEP Professor of Mathematical Sciences Larry Lesser on a grant project sponsored by the National Science Foundation involving teaching statistics through educational songs.

About the Sitka Music Festival The Sitka Music Festival (SMF) inspires audiences, sparks creativity, and strengthens community across Alaska through world-class chamber music performances, education, and artist training. For 55 years, SMF has presented classical music at the highest artistic standards. Festival musicians have traveled to more than 40 Alaskan communities, including remote villages off the road system, sharing music with audiences who might not otherwise experience live chamber music at this level. In turn, visiting artists are enriched by the deep cultural traditions and unique landscapes of Alaska. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, SMF remains committed to bringing exceptional music experiences to communities statewide.

Brahms Double Concerto in Sitka

Henri Dutilleux (1916–2013)Tout un monde lointain… (“A Whole Distant World…”) for cello and piano Zuill Bailey, cello Dominic Dousa, piano

I. Énigme

II. Regard

III. Houles

IV. Miroirs

V. Hymne

Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897–1957) Marietta’s Lied from Die tote Stadt Tanzlied des Pierrot from Die tote Stadt

Aaron Copland (1900–1990) Nocturne Ukelele Serenade (from Two Pieces for Violin and Piano, 1926)

Yuriy Bekker, violin

Dominic Dousa, piano

— Intermission —

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) Double Concerto in A minor, Op. 102 (for violin, cello, and piano)

Yuriy Bekker, violin

Zuill Bailey, cello

Dominic Dousa, piano

I. Allegro

II. Andante

III. Vivace non troppo

Zuill Bailey, widely considered one of the premiere cellists in the world, is a Grammy Award winning, internationally renowned soloist, recitalist, Artistic Director and teacher.  His rare combination of celebrated artistry, technical wizardry and engaging personality has made him one of the most sought after and active cellists today.

Mr. Bailey has been featured with symphony orchestras and music festivals worldwide.  He won the Best Solo Performance Grammy Award in 2017, for his recording of  Michael Daugherty’s “Tales of Hemingway,” with the Nashville Symphony led by Giancarlo Guerrero.  His extensive discography includes his newest release – the world premier recording of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Cello Concerto with the Santa Rosa Symphony. In 2021 he released his second recording of the Bach Cello Suites for PS Audio’s Octave Records label, recorded and mixed in stereo and multichannel sound.

He appeared in a recurring role on the HBO series “Oz,” and has been heard on NPR’s “Morning Edition,” “Tiny Desk Concert,” “Performance Today,” “Saint Paul Sunday,” BBC’s  “In Tune,” XM Radio’s “Live from Studio II,” Sirius Satellite Radio’s “Virtuoso Voices,” and his latest disc of Bach Suites was the disc of the week on Sirius’ Symphony Hall.

Mr. Bailey received his Bachelor’s Degree from the Peabody Conservatory where he was named the 2014 Johns Hopkins University Distinguished Alumni, and received a Master’s Degree from the Juilliard School.  He performs on the “rosette” 1693 Matteo Gofriller Cello formerly owned by Mischa Schneider of the Budapest String Quartet.

He is the Artistic Director of El Paso Pro-Musica (Texas), the Sitka Summer Music Festival and Cello Seminar, Juneau Jazz and Classics, (Alaska), the Northwest Bach Festival (Washington),  Classical Inside Out Series- Mesa Arts Center (Arizona) and is Director of the Center for Arts Entrepreneurship and Professor of Cello at the University of Texas at El Paso

Yuriy Bekker is a critically acclaimed conductor, violinist, and passionate community ambassador. He has led the Charleston Symphony Orchestra as Artistic Director since 2021, while concurrently serving as Concertmaster since 2007 and Principal Pops Conductor since 2016. Bekker previously served as the orchestra’s Acting Artistic Director from 2010 to 2014 and has long demonstrated vision and dedication to the CSO. In 2011, he received the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award from the City of Charleston in recognition of his cultural contributions to the community.

Bekker is currently Distinguished Professor of Practice at the College of Charleston School of the Arts (CofC), serving as Director of the College of Charleston Orchestra, where he has engaged internationally renowned soloists such as Augustin Hadelich and Sarah Chang, leading to sold-out performances. In 2023, Bekker led the CofC Orchestra on its first tour, culminating in a Kennedy Center debut. He previously served as Music Director of the Piccolo Spoleto Festival’s Spotlight Chamber Music Series and is co-founder of the Charleston Chamber Music Intensive, a summer program for high school and college-aged musicians. During the summer, he also regularly serves on the faculty of both the Gingold Chamber Music Festival in Miami, FL and the Nelli Shkolnikova Academy in the Loire Valley, France.

In 2025, a multi-year initiative reached its peak when the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Charleston Youth Symphony, and College of Charleston Orchestra shared the stage at Carnegie Hall in a gala celebrating Charleston’s vibrant cultural community — and marking Maestro Bekker’s Carnegie conducting debut. His vision, fundraising, and tireless advocacy made this extraordinary evening possible.

Yuriy Bekker has performed internationally as a guest concertmaster, chamber musician, conductor, and soloist. He has served as concertmaster of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and the AIMS Festival in Graz, Austria, and has held positions with the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, and Houston Ballet. In addition to performing over a dozen violin concerti with the CSO, he has also appeared as guest concertmaster with the Vancouver Symphony, Ulster Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, and Kansas City Symphony. His festival and venue appearances include the European Music Festival (Stuttgart), Pacific Music Festival (Japan), Spoleto Festival USA, Aspen Music Festival, The Kennedy Center, Chicago Chamber Music Society, and many others across the U.S. and abroad.

From the podium and in chamber settings, he has collaborated with artists including Itzhak Perlman, Augustin Hadelich, Gil Shaham, Sarah Chang, Joshua Roman, Alexander Kerr, Andres Cardenes, Robert DeMaine, and Ilya Kaler. As Principal Pops Conductor of the CSO, he has led performances with celebrated entertainers such as Ben Folds, Tony DeSare, Ellis Hall, Ranky Tanky, and Cirque de la Symphonie.

Bekker is a passionate champion of contemporary music. He has recorded new works by Edward Hart and Thomas Cabaniss to critical acclaim. His recording of Hart’s Under an Indigo Sky reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s Classical Albums chart. His debut CD, Twentieth Century Duos, received international praise and a nomination for the International Classical Music Awards.

Bekker earned a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory as a student of Herbert Greenberg. He also holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the Indiana University School of Music, where he studied violin with Nelli Shkolnikova and Ilya Kaler. His conducting teachers and mentors have been Christopher Wilkins, David Zinman, Imre Palló, and David Effron.

Born in Minsk, Belarus, Yuriy Bekker is now a proud U.S. citizen, husband to his wife, Jenny, and father to their children, Nathanael and Charlotte. He performs on the 1638 Franz Degen Andrea Guarneri violin, generously on loan from an anonymous patron.

Dominic Dousa, a native of Rochester, Minnesota, has been a member of the faculty at the University of Texas at El Paso Department of Music since 2004.  He holds degrees in music from Ball State University (D.A.), Central Michigan University (M.M.), and Harvard University (A.B. summa cum laude), and in statistics from Iowa State University (M.S.), and has also studied composition in Prague.  His primary composition teachers include Jody Nagel, David Gillingham, Craig Weston, and Milan Slavický.  At UTEP, Dousa teaches courses in music theory and composition and has been the director of the Department of Music’s graduate program since 2014.

Dousa’s compositions have received performances at recitals, festivals, and conferences in the U.S. and in 16 countries worldwide.  Blue Griffin Recording has released two CDs of Dousa’s chamber music, including A Musical Portrait of the American Southwest, which features UTEP faculty member Stephen Nordstrom on viola and Dousa at the piano.  This recording has received critical acclaim in Gramophonemagazine and American Record Guide. 

As a collaborative pianist and chamber musician, Dousa has performed in numerous recitals with faculty, guest artists, and students, including presentations with his fellow UTEP faculty member, world-renowned cellist and 2017 Grammy-award winner Zuill Bailey.  He has also worked with UTEP Professor of Mathematical Sciences Larry Lesser on a grant project sponsored by the National Science Foundation involving teaching statistics through educational songs.

About the Sitka Music Festival The Sitka Music Festival (SMF) inspires audiences, sparks creativity, and strengthens community across Alaska through world-class chamber music performances, education, and artist training. For 55 years, SMF has presented classical music at the highest artistic standards. Festival musicians have traveled to more than 40 Alaskan communities, including remote villages off the road system, sharing music with audiences who might not otherwise experience live chamber music at this level. In turn, visiting artists are enriched by the deep cultural traditions and unique landscapes of Alaska. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, SMF remains committed to bringing exceptional music experiences to communities statewide.

Brahms Double Concerto in Ketchikan

Henri Dutilleux (1916–2013)Tout un monde lointain… (“A Whole Distant World…”) for cello and piano Zuill Bailey, cello Dominic Dousa, piano

I. Énigme

II. Regard

III. Houles

IV. Miroirs

V. Hymne

Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897–1957) Marietta’s Lied from Die tote Stadt Tanzlied des Pierrot from Die tote Stadt

Aaron Copland (1900–1990) Nocturne Ukelele Serenade (from Two Pieces for Violin and Piano, 1926)

Yuriy Bekker, violin

Dominic Dousa, piano

— Intermission —

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) Double Concerto in A minor, Op. 102 (for violin, cello, and piano)

Yuriy Bekker, violin

Zuill Bailey, cello

Dominic Dousa, piano

I. Allegro

II. Andante

III. Vivace non troppo

Zuill Bailey, widely considered one of the premiere cellists in the world, is a Grammy Award winning, internationally renowned soloist, recitalist, Artistic Director and teacher.  His rare combination of celebrated artistry, technical wizardry and engaging personality has made him one of the most sought after and active cellists today.

Mr. Bailey has been featured with symphony orchestras and music festivals worldwide.  He won the Best Solo Performance Grammy Award in 2017, for his recording of  Michael Daugherty’s “Tales of Hemingway,” with the Nashville Symphony led by Giancarlo Guerrero.  His extensive discography includes his newest release – the world premier recording of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Cello Concerto with the Santa Rosa Symphony. In 2021 he released his second recording of the Bach Cello Suites for PS Audio’s Octave Records label, recorded and mixed in stereo and multichannel sound.

He appeared in a recurring role on the HBO series “Oz,” and has been heard on NPR’s “Morning Edition,” “Tiny Desk Concert,” “Performance Today,” “Saint Paul Sunday,” BBC’s  “In Tune,” XM Radio’s “Live from Studio II,” Sirius Satellite Radio’s “Virtuoso Voices,” and his latest disc of Bach Suites was the disc of the week on Sirius’ Symphony Hall.

Mr. Bailey received his Bachelor’s Degree from the Peabody Conservatory where he was named the 2014 Johns Hopkins University Distinguished Alumni, and received a Master’s Degree from the Juilliard School.  He performs on the “rosette” 1693 Matteo Gofriller Cello formerly owned by Mischa Schneider of the Budapest String Quartet.

He is the Artistic Director of El Paso Pro-Musica (Texas), the Sitka Summer Music Festival and Cello Seminar, Juneau Jazz and Classics, (Alaska), the Northwest Bach Festival (Washington),  Classical Inside Out Series- Mesa Arts Center (Arizona) and is Director of the Center for Arts Entrepreneurship and Professor of Cello at the University of Texas at El Paso

Yuriy Bekker is a critically acclaimed conductor, violinist, and passionate community ambassador. He has led the Charleston Symphony Orchestra as Artistic Director since 2021, while concurrently serving as Concertmaster since 2007 and Principal Pops Conductor since 2016. Bekker previously served as the orchestra’s Acting Artistic Director from 2010 to 2014 and has long demonstrated vision and dedication to the CSO. In 2011, he received the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award from the City of Charleston in recognition of his cultural contributions to the community.

Bekker is currently Distinguished Professor of Practice at the College of Charleston School of the Arts (CofC), serving as Director of the College of Charleston Orchestra, where he has engaged internationally renowned soloists such as Augustin Hadelich and Sarah Chang, leading to sold-out performances. In 2023, Bekker led the CofC Orchestra on its first tour, culminating in a Kennedy Center debut. He previously served as Music Director of the Piccolo Spoleto Festival’s Spotlight Chamber Music Series and is co-founder of the Charleston Chamber Music Intensive, a summer program for high school and college-aged musicians. During the summer, he also regularly serves on the faculty of both the Gingold Chamber Music Festival in Miami, FL and the Nelli Shkolnikova Academy in the Loire Valley, France.

In 2025, a multi-year initiative reached its peak when the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Charleston Youth Symphony, and College of Charleston Orchestra shared the stage at Carnegie Hall in a gala celebrating Charleston’s vibrant cultural community — and marking Maestro Bekker’s Carnegie conducting debut. His vision, fundraising, and tireless advocacy made this extraordinary evening possible.

Yuriy Bekker has performed internationally as a guest concertmaster, chamber musician, conductor, and soloist. He has served as concertmaster of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and the AIMS Festival in Graz, Austria, and has held positions with the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, and Houston Ballet. In addition to performing over a dozen violin concerti with the CSO, he has also appeared as guest concertmaster with the Vancouver Symphony, Ulster Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, and Kansas City Symphony. His festival and venue appearances include the European Music Festival (Stuttgart), Pacific Music Festival (Japan), Spoleto Festival USA, Aspen Music Festival, The Kennedy Center, Chicago Chamber Music Society, and many others across the U.S. and abroad.

From the podium and in chamber settings, he has collaborated with artists including Itzhak Perlman, Augustin Hadelich, Gil Shaham, Sarah Chang, Joshua Roman, Alexander Kerr, Andres Cardenes, Robert DeMaine, and Ilya Kaler. As Principal Pops Conductor of the CSO, he has led performances with celebrated entertainers such as Ben Folds, Tony DeSare, Ellis Hall, Ranky Tanky, and Cirque de la Symphonie.

Bekker is a passionate champion of contemporary music. He has recorded new works by Edward Hart and Thomas Cabaniss to critical acclaim. His recording of Hart’s Under an Indigo Sky reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s Classical Albums chart. His debut CD, Twentieth Century Duos, received international praise and a nomination for the International Classical Music Awards.

Bekker earned a Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory as a student of Herbert Greenberg. He also holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the Indiana University School of Music, where he studied violin with Nelli Shkolnikova and Ilya Kaler. His conducting teachers and mentors have been Christopher Wilkins, David Zinman, Imre Palló, and David Effron.

Born in Minsk, Belarus, Yuriy Bekker is now a proud U.S. citizen, husband to his wife, Jenny, and father to their children, Nathanael and Charlotte. He performs on the 1638 Franz Degen Andrea Guarneri violin, generously on loan from an anonymous patron.

Dominic Dousa, a native of Rochester, Minnesota, has been a member of the faculty at the University of Texas at El Paso Department of Music since 2004.  He holds degrees in music from Ball State University (D.A.), Central Michigan University (M.M.), and Harvard University (A.B. summa cum laude), and in statistics from Iowa State University (M.S.), and has also studied composition in Prague.  His primary composition teachers include Jody Nagel, David Gillingham, Craig Weston, and Milan Slavický.  At UTEP, Dousa teaches courses in music theory and composition and has been the director of the Department of Music’s graduate program since 2014.

Dousa’s compositions have received performances at recitals, festivals, and conferences in the U.S. and in 16 countries worldwide.  Blue Griffin Recording has released two CDs of Dousa’s chamber music, including A Musical Portrait of the American Southwest, which features UTEP faculty member Stephen Nordstrom on viola and Dousa at the piano.  This recording has received critical acclaim in Gramophonemagazine and American Record Guide. 

As a collaborative pianist and chamber musician, Dousa has performed in numerous recitals with faculty, guest artists, and students, including presentations with his fellow UTEP faculty member, world-renowned cellist and 2017 Grammy-award winner Zuill Bailey.  He has also worked with UTEP Professor of Mathematical Sciences Larry Lesser on a grant project sponsored by the National Science Foundation involving teaching statistics through educational songs.

About the Sitka Music Festival The Sitka Music Festival (SMF) inspires audiences, sparks creativity, and strengthens community across Alaska through world-class chamber music performances, education, and artist training. For 55 years, SMF has presented classical music at the highest artistic standards. Festival musicians have traveled to more than 40 Alaskan communities, including remote villages off the road system, sharing music with audiences who might not otherwise experience live chamber music at this level. In turn, visiting artists are enriched by the deep cultural traditions and unique landscapes of Alaska. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, SMF remains committed to bringing exceptional music experiences to communities statewide.

Brunch Concert at the Miner Music Center!

Experience one of the Sitka Music Festival’s most intimate and cherished events—the 2026 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.

Join us at noon at St Peter’s for Bach's Lunch!

We apologize but boxed lunches cannot be eaten at today’s venue. Thank you for your understanding.

Thursday, June 25 at 12 p.m.

Program TBA

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.

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 18 at 12 p.m.

Program TBA

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.

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 11 at 12 p.m.

Program TBA

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.

Join us for our FREE Roger and Mary Hames Family Concert!

From 3:00 to 3:30 PM, come try our new Instrument Petting Zoo! Students and adults can have fun making sounds on a string instrument.

This will be followed by a special concert from 3:30 to 4:30 PM featuring the Balourdet Quartet.

After the concert, enjoy FREE ice cream!

This family-friendly event will be held indoors at Harrigan Centennial Hall this year.

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 4 at 12 p.m.

Program TBA

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.

Experience an unforgettable evening of world-class music in Ketchikan!

The Sitka Music Festival proudly presents Grammy Award-winning cellist Zuill Bailey in a special one-night-only fundraiser. Widely regarded as one of the world’s premiere cellists, Bailey is an internationally acclaimed soloist, recording artist, and Artistic Director whose passionate performances and chart-topping recordings — including his celebrated Bach Cello Suites — have captivated audiences globally. He received the 2017 Grammy for Best Classical Instrumental Solo.

Immerse yourself in selections from Bach’s legendary Cello Suites and more, performed with Bailey’s signature virtuosity and warmth.

Enjoy a magical night featuring:

• Live performance by Zuill Bailey

• Silent Auction with exclusive items

• Cash Bar

• Complimentary Hors d’Oeuvres

Saturday, May 30 • 7:00 PM American Legion Joseph T. Craig Post 3 Ketchikan, Alaska

All proceeds support the Sitka Music Festival’s mission to inspire audiences, spark creativity, and strengthen community across Alaska through live chamber music performances, music education, and training—by artists of the highest caliber.

Limited tickets available — reserve yours today.

Join us for this special event at Bawden Street Brewing. There is limited seating and it is expected to sell out quickly, so reserve your seats now!

Biribá Union is a dynamic power trio that blends original music with vibrant global influences to create a fresh, accessible sound. Named after the Brazilian wild sugar-apple, the group features Grammy Award-winning cellist Mike Block (cello, vocals), Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist Christylez Bacon (beatbox, guitar, rhymes), and Uruguayan bassist/composer Patricia Ligia (electric bass, vocals).

The trio met through Silkroad’s Global Musician Workshop and crafts high-energy original compositions that fuse Brazilian forró and choro, DC hip-hop and go-go rhythms, American roots music, and jazz improvisation—all delivered with virtuosic precision and infectious groove.

One day special event in Sitka!

Biribá Union is a dynamic power trio that blends original music with vibrant global influences to create a fresh, accessible sound. Named after the Brazilian wild sugar-apple, the group features Grammy Award-winning cellist Mike Block (cello, vocals), Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist Christylez Bacon (beatbox, guitar, rhymes), and Uruguayan bassist/composer Patricia Ligia (electric bass, vocals).

The trio met through Silkroad’s Global Musician Workshop and crafts high-energy original compositions that fuse Brazilian forró and choro, DC hip-hop and go-go rhythms, American roots music, and jazz improvisation—all delivered with virtuosic precision and infectious groove.

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.