This morning on KSEE Sunrise Faith Sidlow talked with cellist Zuill Bailey and Fresno Philharmonic Executive Director Don Reinhold about this weekend's concerts at the Saroyan Theatre. Bailey brought his 300 year old cello and performed for us in the studio. He's performing with the Philharmonic Saturday, November 21 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 22 at 2:30 p.m. at the Saroyan Theatre.

On Friday morning, Bailey is volunteering his time to help with the Fresno Philharmonic’s Concerto for Kids program. He is meeting with students at Rafer Johnson Junior High in Kingsburg. Students interested in music can ask him questions and enjoy a world class concert for free. He will perform for 300 third through sixth graders. Teachers and students have been preparing with materials surrounding the music of Bach.

The program is organized in conjunction with the Fresno County Office of Education and connects world renowned musicians with school children in the Central Valley.

To find more about the cellist go to Zuill Bailey. Or you can find him on MySpace

ZUILL BAILEY is considered one of the pre-eminent cellists of his generation. His rare combination of compelling artistry, technical finesse, and engaging personality has secured his place as one of the most sought-after cellists today.

A consummate concerto soloist, Bailey performs with the symphony orchestras of Chicago, San Francisco, Minnesota, Dallas, Louisville, Milwaukee, Nashville, Toronto and Utah, among other leading orchestras around the world. He has collaborated with such conductors as Itzhak Perlman, Alan Gilbert, Andrew Litton, James DePriest, and Stanislav Skrowacezewski, and has been featured with musical luminaries Leon Fleisher, Jaime Laredo, the Juilliard String Quartet, Lynn Harrell and Janos Starker. Mr. Bailey has appeared at the Kennedy Center, Alice Tully Hall, the 92nd Street Y, and Carnegie Hall, where he made his debut performing the U.S. premiere of Miklos Theodorakis' Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra.

His international appearances include celebrated performances with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra in its 50th anniversary tour of Russia, as well as concerts in the Dominican Republic, France, Israel, Spain, Hong Kong, Jordan, Mexico, Peru, and the United Kingdom. Festival appearances include Ravinia, the Interlochen Center for the Arts, the Santa Fe Chamber Music, Caramoor, Chautauqua, Bravo!, Vail Valley, Maverick Concert Series and the Music Academy of the West. In addition, he was the featured soloist performing the Elgar Cello Concerto at the Bard Festival in the World Premiere of the Doug Varrone Dance Company’s performance of “Victorious.”

Zuill Bailey is a member of the acclaimed Perlman-Schmidt-Bailey Trio, featuring pianist Navah Perlman and violinist Giora Schmidt. He also performs regularly with pianists Awadagin Pratt and Orion Weiss in recitals and chamber music.

Zuill Bailey is an exclusive recording artist with Telarc International. His “Russian Masterpieces,” CD featuring the works of Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich and performed with the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra has received widespread critical acclaim. Bailey was awarded with the Classical Recording Foundation Award for 2006 and 2007 for the recording of Beethoven’s complete works for Cello and Piano. The popular two disc set of Beethoven’s complete works with pianist Simone Dinnerstein was released worldwide . Bailey’s highly anticipated recording of the Complete Bach Suites for Solo Cello will be available in January, 2010.

Other recordings include a debut recital disc for Delos, Cello Quintets of Boccherini and Schubert with Janos Starker, Saint-Saëns’ Cello Concertos No. 1 and 2 "Live," and the Korngold Cello Concerto with Kaspar Richter and the Bruckner Orchestra Linz for ASV.

Network television appearances include a recurring role on the HBO series “Oz,” in addition to features on the NBC series” Homicide” A&E, NHK TV in Japan, a live broadcast of the Beethoven Triple Concerto from Mexico City, and the televised production of the Cuban premiere of Victor Herbert's Cello Concerto No. 2 with the National Orchestra of Cuba. He is heard on NPR's "Performance Today," "Saint Paul Sunday," BBC's "In Tune," XM Radio's "Live from Studio II," Sirius Satellite Radio, Virtuoso Voices the KDFC Concert Series, Minnesota Public Radio, WFMT and RTHK Radio Hong Kong.

Zuill Bailey performs on a 1693 Matteo Gofriller Cello, formerly owned by Mischa Schneider of the Budapest String Quartet. In addition to his extensive touring engagements, Bailey is the Artistic Director of El Paso Pro Musica, (Texas), Artistic Director designate of the Sitka Summer Music Festival and Series, (Alaska) and Professor of Cello at the University of Texas at El Paso.