Americana

James Lowe, conductor Zuill Bailey, cello What defines the American sound? Cellist Zuill Bailey leads the premiere of Visions of Humanity, a bold suite of variations by five living composers reflecting on shared experience from strikingly different perspectives. Framing the work is a portrait of America, from Copland’s Shaker simplicity and William Grant Still’s lyric warmth to the cinematic sweeping landscapes of Billy the Kid. Aaron Copland Variations on a Shaker Melody Visions of Humanity (co-commission) Mark O’Connor Avner Dorman Zhou Tian Enrico Chapela Chanda Dancy-Morizawa Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op.33 William Grant Still Mother and Child Aaron Copland Suite from Billy the Kid SATURDAY DOORS 6PM | PRECONCERT TALK 6:30PM | SHOW 7:30PM SUNDAY DOORS 1:30PM | PRECONCERT TALK 2PM | SHOW 3PM SATURDAY TICKETS SUNDAY TICKETS BUY MASTERWORKS SUBSCRIPTION Free K-12 Tickets Bring the whole family! This show has free tickets available for all students K-12 through the Spokane Symphony FASTix program. Get your tickets by calling The Fox box office at 509-624-1200. Program Notes Coming Soon Zuill Bailey 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. Lowedown Thursday October 1 at noon, Music Director James Lowe gives you the “LoweDown” on the music. It’s a free, fascinating, and lighthearted talk about the music, including historical context and meaning, juicy gossip about the composers’ lives, music clips, visuals, and our conductor’s quick wit! ◆ NOON TO 1:00 PM Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture’s Eric A. Johnston Auditorium, 2316 W. First Avenue, Spokane SPR Classical Concert of The Week Whether you couldn’t attend a Masterworks concert or loved what you heard and want to listen again, Spokane Symphony Masterworks concerts are featured on SPR Classical’s “Concert of the Week,” the Saturday after each performance on KSFC 91.9 FM at 12pm on spokanepublicradio.org. The Masterworks 26-27 Season is Sponsored by Ticket Information: Phone: 509-624-1200 Box Office: The Fox Theater, 1001 West Sprague Avenue SATURDAY TICKETS SUNDAY TICKETS BUY MASTERWORKS SUBSCRIPTION Bag Policy All bags (with the exception of clutches 6 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches) are subject to visual inspection by venue security. Large bags are not allowed in The Fox, and must be checked in our Coat Check (located in the North Gallery) for the duration of the event. Programs are subject to change Cancellation Policy All sales are final and nonrefundable.