El Paso Recognizes UTEP's Zuill Bailey for Artistic Impact

Last Updated on February 17, 2020 at 12:00 AM

Originally published February 17, 2020

By Daniel Perez

UTEP Communications

El Paso Mayor Dee Margo presented Zuill Bailey, one of the world's premier cellists and a music instructor at The University of Texas at El Paso, with a Conquistador Award during the El Paso City Council's regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, at City Hall.

El Paso Mayor Dee Margo presented Zuill Bailey, one of the world's premier cellists and a music instructor at The University of Texas at El Paso, with a Conquistador Award during the El Paso City Council's regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, at City Hall. Photo: JR Hernandez / UTEP Communications

The Conquistador Award is the highest honor the City of El Paso gives to people who have made significant contributions to the community. Margo, who praised Bailey “for his profound artistic impact on the community,” also proclaimed Feb. 4 as Zuill Bailey Day in El Paso.

Bailey stood next to the mayor as he listed some of the musician’s many achievements from the local to the international levels. Bailey is a Grammy Award winner and artistic director of El Paso Pro-Musica, a nonprofit chamber music organization, and UTEP’s Center for Arts Entrepreneurship. He has performed throughout the world, but also is known for his ongoing efforts to bring music to schoolchildren, the elderly and others who may not be able to attend his performances.

“I am incredibly humbled by this award and I am proud to call El Paso home,” Bailey said after the ceremony. “It is a gift for me to be associated with an organization like El Paso Pro-Musica, UTEP and the Center for Arts Entrepreneurship. It is the people of this community who energize and inspire me to continue to work as hard as I do for all of El Paso.” 

The recognition is a symbol of Bailey’s strong impact on the community, said Steve Wilson, DMA, chair and professor of music at UTEP. He and several of Bailey’s students were in the council chambers to support the musician.

“As the artistic director of the Center for Arts Entrepreneurship, Zuill is transforming the training of student musicians at UTEP to include a strong focus on community engagement, a spirit of entrepreneurship, and a strong sense of social impact. The UTEP Department of Music couldn't be more proud of Zuill on this important occasion.”

The Conquistador Award is a reproduction of the bronze bust of “Don Juan de Oñate — El Adelantado,” an artistic sculpture created by John Sherill Houser.