Why? Because we can.
This phrase has become not only the motto of the Black Glove Society, it is an empowering statement that leaves no room for doubt or failure. For the growing number of cellists who converge on Dixie College every July, it has become something of a battle cry. In the spring of 1995, St. George cellists, Francesca Rose and Tracie Price, were trying to figure out a way to keep their cello students interested and practicing over the long, hot, summer months. The solution was to gather all the area cellists together for a week to play in quartets, ensembles and cello orchestra. With under a month to plan and execute the idea, and along with the help of Nate Madsen, they threw together a cello festival, the first of its kind in the area. They organized people into ensembles, ordered music, and found rehearsal and concert venues in less than two weeks, with no budget. Eighteen cellists from ages five to twenty-six participated in the first Black Glove Cello Festival. The Festival was an overwhelming success. Everyone in attendance at the final concert knew they were experiencing something
special and unique. When it was over, the exhausted founders realized they were trapped. Now that people had experienced the magic of a cello festival once, they would demand that it continue every year.
The following year, the Utah Symphony cancelled part of its summer season, which was a terrible thing, but turned out to be quite fortuitous for the BGCF. When it happened, Tracie and Francesca immediately thought to enlist the aid of their teacher, Utah Symphony principal cellist, Ryan Selberg, for the BGCF. He graciously and enthusiastically agreed to
be the guest artist at the festival. The expansion of the festival to include masterclasses, more recitals, and orchestral technique workshops was a direct result of Ryan's joining the project. The Second Annual Black Glove Cello Festival, held in 1996 also saw the move to a new venue: Dixie College. With the Ryan's inspirational teaching and the support of Dixie
College, the festival was successful beyond anyone's expectations. Thirty-six cellists of all ages from the youngest beginners to retirees joined in the music making that summer, double the number from the year before. Ryan's expertise and leadership added immeasurably to the experience. Something truly remarkable happens when you gather a group of cellists to spend a week living and breathing nothing but cello. The mutual love of
music and dedication to the cello creates a bond between the musicians young and old.
Since those first two years, the BGCF has continued to evolve; in the summer of 1999, we were excited to add a new and indespensible faculty member, Dr. Eileen Brownell, who now serves as the assistant director. The biggest change for us was probably in 2006 when we moved the site of the Festival to Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, in St. George. This welcoming and giving congregation has taken us under its wing and provided us with the perfect venue for our activities.
What does the future hold for the Black Glove Cello Festival? It's impossible to say. But as long as people still love playing the cello and are willing to spend a week immersed in that art, the Festival will continue.
Why?
The the answer is pretty obvious.
