KU Music and Reach Out Kansas Inc. offer new series: Kansas Partnership for the Arts


Fri, 09/09/2011

author

Erin Curtis-Dierks

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LAWRENCE – The University of Kansas School of Music and Reach Out Kansas Inc. are teaming up in 2011-12 for The Kansas Partnership for the Arts, a series featuring numerous performances by renowned faculty, student and international guest artists.

All series events are free and open to the public. The series will provide performances not only in Lawrence, Overland Park and elsewhere in the state, but also will offer more than 50 outreach performances throughout Kansas public schools, community centers and senior citizen facilities. Of special note are two performances in the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts/Helzberg Hall located in downtown Kansas City.

“The KU School of Music is thrilled to be partnering with Reach Out Kansas, Inc. in creating unique and wonderful opportunities for music enthusiasts in the greater Kansas City area,” said Robert Walzel, dean of the KU School of Music. “Music is indeed something that influences people’s lives on a daily basis, and KU musicians are at the forefront in contributing to the quality of life for Kansas and others throughout the world. By including the Kansas Partnership for the Arts as part of your own life experience, you will be participating in an initiative that spans generational and cultural divides.”

The series includes the following events:

Liszt Odyssey, Sept. 11-13
This series celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of pianist and composer Franz Liszt:
• Sunday, Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m. Student organ recital in Bales Organ Recital Hall
• Monday, Sept. 12, 10: a.m.- noon Master class for duo pianists with Massimiliano Baggio, Swarthout Recital Hall
• Monday, Sept. 12, 12:30 p.m. Collaborative recital featuring pianist Robert Koenig, baritone Chris Thompson, soprano Callie Schlegel, violist Peter Chun, and clarinetist Robert Walzel
Spencer Museum of Art
• Monday, Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m. Lecture by Alan Walker, “Liszt and the Keyboard: the Wizard Casts His Spells,” the Lied Center of Kansas
• Tuesday, Sept. 13, 7:30 p.m. Recital, Aspects of Liszt, featuring music of Liszt and the world premiere of the Piano Sonata No. 2 (2011), “The Last Resistance,” by Mohammed Fairouz, an emerging young composer from New York. This piece will be performed by Professor Steven Spooner in the Lied Center of Kansas.

The Kavafian-Schub-Shifrin Trio, Sept. 26
Featuring artists Ani Kavafian, violin and viola; Andre-Michel Schub, piano; and David Shifrin, clarinet in a concert on Sept. 26 in Swarthout Recital Hall/Murphy Hall.

Brass & Percussion Masters Series
Ten world-renowned brass and percussion artists will visit KU throughout the year to present master classes, workshops and performances. Visiting artists include: Michael Sachs, principal trumpet of the Cleveland Orchestra; Erik Ralske, principal horn of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; James Gourlay, famed Scottish tuba virtuoso and conductor, and much more. More information will be available at School of Music.

Collaborative Piano/Vocal Coaching – Artists-in-Residence
Distinguished educators of opera, vocal repertoire, collaborative piano and conducting will present master classes and workshops at KU throughout the year. Guest artists include Nini Sanikidze, head coach for LA Opera’s Domingo-Thornton Young Artists Program; Martin Katz with the University of Michigan; Russell Miller with the Eastman School of Music; John Mueter, a lecturer at KU; and Leonardo Vordoni, conductor. More information will be available at School of Music.

Collaborative Piano Project
Ten scholarships are provided each year for students by the faculty of the piano division at KU for participation in the Collaborative Piano Project. The selected students will study and perform with artists-in-residence of the Collaborative Piano/Vocal Coaching Program as well as faculty from KU. This project is directed by Professor Scott McBride Smith. More information will be available at School of Music.

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts events
The KU School of Music will present two events at the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City:
• Nov. 13, 7 p.m.: Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble with Paul Popiel and Dan Gailey as conductors, and featuring guest artists Steve Houghton and Gary Foster, as well as KU faculty artists.
• May 5, 2012, 7 p.m.: KU Concert Opera, David Neely as conductor. 
Opera-Vocal Music Outreach Project – This program will work with a cast of singers and a pianist (all recent graduates from KU), who will perform free concerts in schools, community centers and seniors centers in rural, suburban and urban communities across the state of Kansas. More information will be available at School of Music.

The Creation of “West Side Story”
This initiative combines a presentation by KU Professor Paul Laird, noted Leonard Bernstein scholar, with the performance of songs for the leads from “West Side Story,” performed by KU voice and opera students. The Creation of “West Side Story” will be presented in multiple communities in Kansas in 2011. The following have been set and information about additional dates will become available at music.ku.edu:
• Oct. 23, 2 p.m.: Hays Public Library, Hays
• Oct. 28, time TBD, United Methodist Church, Council Grove

KU Vespers-On the Road, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m.
The KU School of Music will ring in the holidays with the Holiday Vespers Concert, On the Road at the Carlsen Center/Johnson County Community College. This is an annual event conducted by professors David Neely and Paul Tucker.

Imani Winds, March 2012
North America’s premiere wind quintet, Imani Winds, will work with students and ensembles at KU during three days of master classes and workshops in March of 2012. More information will be available at School of Music.

The Borromeo String Quartet, May 2012
The Borromeo String Quartet, one of the most sought-after string quartets in the world, will provide three days of master classes at KU and a concert, all in the spring of 2012. More information will be available at School of Music.

2012 KU Jazz Festival
The KU Jazz Festival has been a focal point for jazz performance and education in the central United States for over 30 years. The festival provides the region with unique opportunities to hear and learn from world-class jazz musicians and educators. More information will be available at School of Music.

The Kansas Partnership for the Arts is sponsored by Reach Out Kansas Inc.; Smithyman & Zakoura, Chartered, of Overland Park; and The Zakoura Family Fund. Reach Out Kansas Inc. is a Kansas not-for-profit corporation that seeks to create cultural, musical and education awareness and exchange, with emphasis on underserved rural and minority populations. More information can be found at reachoutkansas.org.

All funds provided to the KU School of Music are managed by KU Endowment, the independent, nonprofit organization servicing as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU.

For more information about the Partnership for the Arts and its program booklet, please contact us at (785) 864-3436 or at School of Music.

Fri, 09/09/2011

author

Erin Curtis-Dierks

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Erin Curtis Dierks