WESTFIELD – Acclaimed cellist Gabriel Cabezas will grace the Steeple Concerts stage at St. Paul’s Church in Westfield this Sunday, January 19, at 5 p.m. In 2023, this exceptional young cellist was named one of “23 Composers and Performers to Watch….” (Washington Post). Now, in 2025, he is a nationally sought-after soloist and collaborator who is “as comfortable interpreting new works as he is with the pillar scores of the cello repertoire” (About—Gabriel Cabezas). Cellist aficionados in Westfield and beyond will not want to miss this highlighted musical event.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is located at 414 East Broad Street, Westfield, N.J. Concert tickets, priced at $30 for adults and $15 for students, can be purchased online at www.steepleconcerts.org or at the door. Parking is free in the church’s parking lot or on nearby St. Paul’s Street. A “meet and greet the artist” reception follows the event.
Mr. Cabezas (b. Chicago 1992), studied first under H Jørgen Jensen at the Academy of the Music Institute of Chicago. In 2009, he continued his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music (Philadelphia) under Carter Brey, principal cellist of the New York Philharmonic. His “young artist” awards are lengthy and legendary. Among these is the Sphinx Medal of Excellence (2016), a career grant awarded to extraordinary young classical Black and Latinx musicians.
In 2024, The New York Times hailed Mr. Cabezas for his performance in the East Coast premiere of California composer Gabriella Smith’s first full-length album, Lost Coast, recorded in Iceland with Mr. Cabezas and composed for him. This recording was “re-imagined as a dense soundscape predominantly comprised of layered voice and cello” (Projects—Gabriel Cabezas). In 2023, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, featuring conductor Gustavo Dudamel and soloist Gabriel Cabezas, first premiered the concerto version of Lost Coast in LA.
Also in 2023, Mr. Cabezas cofounded the string quartet Owls, distinctive for its “two cello sound” (vs. two violins) and described as “a dream group…” (NYTimes). Owls “weaves together new compositions with fresh arrangements of music ranging from the 1600s to the present.” (About– Gabriel Cabezas). Following his recital at St. Paul’s on January 19, Mr. Cabezas will perform with Owls on February 8 at 92NY (NYC).
Upcoming concerts in the 20242025 Steeple Concerts season include the Sybarite5 (String Quintet) (Sunday, March 16) and the always-thrilling Masterworks Concert (Sunday, May 18). This year’s much-anticipated event will feature the Verdi Requiem with full chorus and orchestra.
