El Paso cellist wins several Grammy awards

El Paso Cellist Zuill Bailey won several Grammy awards Sunday.

Bailey won “Best Classical Instrumental Solo” and “Best Contemporary Classical Composition” for “Tales of Hemingway.” The CD he was featured in also won for “Best Classical Compendium.“

Bailey is the artistic director for El Paso Pro Musica and a professor of cello at the University of Texas at El Paso. He plays for high school students and the elderly at assisted living homes.

A celebration was held Sunday night at Ardovino’s Desert Crossing.

Executive Director of Pro Musica Felipa Solis said she watched Bailey accept his award while live streaming the show online.

“He said he uses music to sooth and heal and he wanted to thank all of the cities he represents,” Solis said. “He lives here, he’s made El Paso his home and that was very special.”

ABC-7 spoke to Bailey just weeks before the Grammy’s. He said, “It’s an amazing feeling. It’s very humbling, I work very hard day in and day out this is my 25th anniversary of performing and traveling.”

“I’m still in a state of shock,” Bailey added. “A lot of the greatest things that happen in my life I find the words later, I’m just enjoying this numbness.”

Bailey also talked about the piece “Tales of Hemingway” written specifically for him.

“He (Michael Daugherty) having seen me perform knew that I love voluptuous sound and ground breaking different techniques,” Bailey said.

ABC-7 did not speak with Bailey Sunday night, but Solis said the Grammy winner was overwhelmed with happiness.

“He’s really overwhelmed, he’s with his son tonight and that’s even more overwhelming but what he appreciates is El Paso is here tonight,” Solis said.