VERMILLION, South Dakota (KCAU) – The National Music Museum in Vermillion received a collection of cellos and bows that date back to as early as the 17th century.
Sonja Kraus, University of South Dakota assistant professor and cellist, showcased the donated instruments’ ability and the difference bows make.
“People may not understand, if they’re not string players, that the bows can be important or sometimes more important than the actual instrument,” National Music Museum director Dwight Vaught said. “And so when you have the right bow with the right instrument, all of a sudden then the instrument just comes alive.”
Just as Kraus was able to play the 200-year-old cello, those who play and practice the cello will be able to get their hands on the string instruments.
“So this is a collection that is going to be out and available for students and for music professors and for guest artists that will come in,” Vaught said. “Really, this brings together all of the collaborative opportunities that we could possibly do as a museum is wrapped up in this collection.”
Ken Cancelosi, son of professional cellist Robert Cancelosi, donated the five cellos and 27 bows from his father’s collection.
“The five instruments that I have given to the museum represent the whole of my dad’s career,” he said.
Cancelosi said he could have picked any orchestra in the world to donate his father’s instruments to, but the National Music Museum’s ability to have students play the cellos made the museum the perfect donation spot .
“That’s the most important thing to me,” said Cancelosi. “They get into the hands of students who will learn from them, as I did when I was a boy, when I was a young person. And so I’m giving that to students.”
One of the cellos will be played during the Rawlins Piano Trio concert on Sunday, Jan. 28 at 2 p.m.
