The Savannah Music Festival (SMF) will present a special off-season chamber music concert featuring an artist with Savannah roots. World-renowned cellist Raphael Bell, whose parents are from Savannah, will perform alongside violinist Stefan Jackiw and pianist Andrew Armstrong on January 15, 2026 at 6 p.m. in the exquisitely restored Regina Coeli Hall at The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. Tickets are $50 and are available online on the Savannah Music Festival website.

Bell is the Principal Cellist of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Belgium, whose warm sound and generous musical spirit have shaped a career spanning acclaimed solo, chamber and orchestral stages across three continents. Jackiw is celebrated for his breathtaking lyricism and rare emotional clarity. He has become a favorite of audiences where his performances are praised for their honesty and depth. Armstrong brings boundless energy and expressive touch, qualities that have carried him through more than 1,400 performances around the world and made him a cherished collaborator among today’s leading musicians.

“I am thrilled to come back to play in Savannah, the hometown of both my parents, and where I have family going back to the 18th century,” Bell said. “Growing up, I loved the visits to my grandparents in their old house downtown, and to my grandmother out on the marshes near Isle of Hope. In 1983, I was there with my father for the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the city.”

Bell continued, “All the stories, the rich history and beauty of the city are a part of me and shaped many childhood memories. I get to travel, teach, and play music around the world, and it will be especially exciting to return, joined by Stefan Jackiw and Andrew Armstrong, to perform in this city that has so much meaning for me.”

The evening’s program will feature Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No. 2 In E minor, Op. 67 and Dvorak’s Piano Trio No. 4 In E minor, Op. 90 “Dumky.”

“We’re delighted to present this remarkable piano trio featuring Raphael Bell, Stefan Jackiw, and Andrew Armstrong,” said SMF Artistic Director Ryan McMaken. “Raphael’s deep family roots in Savannah make his return truly meaningful, and hearing him perform alongside such exceptional artists is a rare opportunity. This concert is a standout event outside of our festival lineup, and we’re excited to share it with our community at our organization’s first concert inside the Regina Coeli Hall.”

The concert offers locals and tourists visiting Savannah an opportunity to enjoy exceptional chamber music ahead of the 2026 Savannah Music Festival which runs from March 25th through April 5th. For more information, visit www.savannahmusicfestival.org.