Cello Festival of Southern Utah

The Cello Festival of Southern Utah 2025 concluded successfully last Saturday! Special thanks to everyone who helped make it possible, from parents, teachers, volunteers to our generous sponsors~ We are especially excited to celebrate a decade of community effort as we continue to be place of inspiration, excitement and collaboration through beautiful cello music. Congratulations to all talented cellists who participated in the Brimhall Cello Competition, and those who started their journey in the Junior Festival. The special world première, various artist recitals and workshops, ASTA Cello Lecture Series, as well as small and large cello ensemble performances...etc. all brought unforgettable memories to both cellists and the general public who attended the festival events. Thank you everyone! Here are some photo highlights thanks to Kordan Media. Enjoy!

Some highlights Cello Festival Day 1! See you all in the events of the final day. Thanks for all your support.

Congratulations to the prize-winners of the Brimhall Cello Competition 2025! We appreciate participants from both rounds for taking part in this competition, thank you for all your gtrwtvwork. We would also share our appreciation to the adjudicators.

Jr Division:
1st Place: Mary Erickson
2nd Place: Elian Coley
3rd Place: Audrey Smith
HM: Grant Morgan
HM: Christopher Wilkinson Wong

Sr. Division:
1st Place: Blake Purser
2nd Place: Dalloway Smith
3rd Place Tie: Ella Johnson, Yejoon Jung

Collegiate Division:
1st Place: Stella Wadsworth
2nd Place: Hayoung Kim
3rd Place: Max Torres
HM: Matthew Bailey

Friends,
Join us for the following Cello Festival of Southern Utah (TODAY and TOMORROW) events open to anyone (no ticket needed) either in person or watch the livestream!

Brimhall Cello Competition
September 19, 2025 (Friday), 2:00-6:00pm
Eccles Concert Hall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDEk1UEGAk0

Artist Recital 1:
September 19, 2025 (Friday), 7:00pm
Eccles Concert Hall
Daniel Gaisford, cello
Dr. Christian Bohnenstengel, piano
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM8Ir4JKyes&ab_channel=UtahTechUniversityMusicDepartment

Artist Recital 2:
September 19, 2025 (Friday), 7:30pm
Eccles Concert Hall
Hojung Kim, cello
Dr. Nariaki Sugiura, piano
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slMlNBxLDOI&ab_channel=UtahTechUniversityMusicDepartment )

Artist Recital 3:
September 19, 2025 (Friday), 7:30pm
Eccles Concert Hall
Duo Cantabile
Dr. Simona Barbu, cello
Dr. Nariaki Sugiura, piano
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V03oVqW6Jsw&ab_channel=UtahTechUniversityMusicDepartment

ASTA Cello Lecture Series "Exploring Expression":
Sept 20 (Saturday) at 11am in Eccles Concert Hall
Dr. Elliott and Carey Cheney will discuss ideas from great cellists and musicians about meaning in music and offer practical suggestions on how different aspects of cello technique can be used to make music more meaningful to the audience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa8NwvByTb8&ab_channel=UtahTechUniversityMusicDepartment

Matinee Chamber Concert:
Sept 20 (Saturday) at 2pm in Eccles Concert Hall
The chamber concert will showcase first-prize winners of the Brimhall Cello Competition 2025, chamber ensembles Amichevoli and Cellomania USA, as well as artist-faculty performances, concluding with Klengel's Hymnus for 12 Cellos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do_POwfL6_E&ab_channel=UtahTechUniversityMusicDepartment

Final Cello Ensemble Concert:
Sept 20 (Saturday) at 7:30pm in Eccles Concert Hall
All three Festival cello ensembles (beginners, intermediate & advanced) will perform a diverse program of music written or arranged for cellos in multiple parts. Featured performing artists include Dr. Robert Tueller, Dr. Ka-Wai Yu, and Eric Yip featuring a world première of Karry Li's Over the Harbour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUq5FujrWmQ&ab_channel=UtahTechUniversityMusicDepartment )

Cello Festival of Southern Utah - Matinee Chamber Concert Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

The adjudicators have selected the following participants to the final round of the Brimhall Cello Competition to compete in-person in Eccles Concert Hall of Utah Tech University on September 19, 2025. Congratulations to all who participated in the preliminary round!

JUNIOR finalists:
Elian Coley
Mary Erickson
Grant Morgan
Audrey Smith
Christopher Wong

SENIOR finalists:
Kate Boynton
Graham Carlson
Henry Derr
Aliya Gardner
Molly George
Ella Johnson
YeeJoon Jung
Calvin Kwon
Seth Peterson
Delmer Pilling
Blake Purser
Dalloway Smith

COLLEGIATE finalists:
Matthew Bailey
Andrew Jeppsen
Hayoung Kim
Max Torres
Stella Wadsworth
Ellie Wirthlin

Here is a new welcome and intro video of the Cello Festival of Southern Utah 2025 by Festival Director Dr. Ka-Wai Yu. Cellists and friends, join us for this wonderful event as we meet our 10th anniversary this year! Let's create something incredible together, connect with each other through music, and celebrate our community~ Thanks for your support.

Invitation to Cello Festival of Southern Utah 2025 With Dr. Ka-Wai Yu, Festival Director