Composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich's "Concerto for Cello & Orchestra"

The new piece is performed here by soloist Zuill Bailey, Santa Rosa Symphony, and conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong on March 20, 2021 at the Green Music Center in Santa Rosa, CA

Ellen recently talked with The Violin Channel about her new work.

"A Cello Concerto has been on my 'wish list' for a long time," Ellen told The Violin Channel. "So I was particularly happy to receive a commission from Sebrina Alfonso and the South Florida Symphony to write a concerto for the outstanding cellist, Zuill Bailey.

"Over the years, I've written a piece for cello and piano, and many chamber works that include the cello. I have a Concerto for Violin and Cello and a Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano. Plus my Symphony #2 'Cello Symphony' features the cello section and even includes a virtuoso cadenza played by the entire section. In the performances I've been able to attend, I have been moved by the fact that the whole cello section got a solo bow after the piece!

"One of the things I particularly love about the cello is that it has virtually the entire range of the human voice, from the lowest bass to the highest soprano — and the voice of the Cello can transverse the whole vocal realm with seeming ease. But I sometimes say that string instruments are like "singers on steroids" because of the power they give to the composer to explore virtuosity as well as artistic expression.

"Writing this piece was a 'labor of love' (please forgive the emotional thought!) for me. The process of writing for me is always a voyage of exploration. I hope the audience will join me on this journey.

"The entire concert will be televised on PBS channel KRCB and non-PBS channel KPJK on April 19: www.srsymphony.org/Education-Community/Community,-Engagement-Resources/SRS_on_TV"

ELLEN TAAFFE ZWILICH | CONCERTO FOR CELLO & ORCHESTRA | ZUILL BAILEY | FRANCESCO LECCE-CHONG | SANTA ROSA SYMPHONY | 2021