Artistic Director, Bailey Cooke, is the founder and visionary behind Aeternum and an emerging luminary in American choral music.
A native of the Washington, D.C., area, Bailey earned his degree in vocal performance with highest honors from the University of California, Davis. During his time at UC Davis, he conducted the Davis Chamber Choir, the university’s premier vocal chamber ensemble.
Bailey has performed with renowned vocal ensembles, including Schola Cantorum and The American Bach Soloists. As a singer, he has appeared in some of the world’s most iconic sacred spaces, including Washington National Cathedral and Grace Cathedral in the U.S., as well as St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, Canterbury Cathedral, and Coventry Cathedral in the U.K. As a conductor, his work has brought him to world-class venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York and St. John’s Smith Square in London.
Praised for his ability to “create a warm connection between stage and patron” (Sacramento Choral Calendar) and for leading choirs that “may be peerless within a 500-mile radius…their technique is commensurate with their artistry” , Bailey founded Aeternum in 2024 to share his passion for choral music with audiences in the Bay Area and beyond.
In addition to his musical work, Bailey has spent six years in the technology sector, building a start-up while continuing to perform as solo and choral bass-baritone, piano recitalist, and guest conductor in the United States. His dual career path reflects a dynamic blend of entrepreneurship and artistry, qualities he brings to his work with Aeternum.