Tucson Cello Congress 2026
The Tucson Cello Congress annually unites 100 cellists of all ages and experience levels from across the southwest. This year’s theme centers around the concept of PLAY!: Finding Joy Through Creating Sound. This event is hosted by the University of Arizona and American String Teacher’s Association and features outstanding guest artists, cello ensemble rehearsals, masterclasses, premieres of new works, and a young artist competition. This year’s Cello Congress will feature the award-winning and incredibly inspiring cellist/educator Scott Krijnen. The event will be held at the University of Arizona School of Music on Saturday, January 17, 2026. Registration will close at 8:00 AM on Friday, January 16, 2026.
Click here for more information and registration.
Cello Ensemble Concert
January 17, Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
Crowder Hall, Free Admission
Young Artist Competition
January 17, Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
Holsclaw Hall, Free Admission
Featured Guest Artist
Scott Krijnen
Born in Antwerp, Belgium, Scott Krijnen was raised in an environment of music, conducting and education. It is with great joy that he gets to continue to grow in these areas every day in his career and personal life. A recipient of a Master’s Degree in Cello Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, he is a frequent performer as a chamber musician, with concerts throughout the Bay Area, as well as Europe, Taiwan and Korea, and as an orchestral player, including as a member of the Silicon Valley Symphony and the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra. Scott has appeared as a soloist with the Spokane Symphony, the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, Silicon Valley Symphony, The Winchester Orchestra and the Coeur d’Alene Symphony.
As a conductor, he is sought after throughout the Bay Area, currently leading the Cambrian Symphony, appearing as a recurring guest conductor with the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, in his 5th year as Orchestra Director of the “Summer in the City” festival at San Jose State University and his 3rd year as Musical Director of San Jose Dance Theatre. As an educator, Scott currently teaches over 550 students through 9 orchestras at Castillero and Redwood Middle Schools, winning teacher of the year recognition in 2011. Mr. Krijnen coaches and has conducted at Saratoga High School, leads sectionals at SJSU, and has coached and presented with PACO for the last decade.
Scott is happily married to his wife of 12 years, Aryn, and is the father of two beautiful children who get to grow up in the same wonderful world of music as their father. In 2015, Krijnen was recognized for his dedication to music, his students, and the greater community with both the Richard Levin Orchestra Educator Award from the California Music Educators Association and the Comcast SportsNet Bay Area All-Star Teacher Award.