The CU Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony and nine-piece jazz ensemble take the stage at Boettcher Concert Hall April 26.
A rare performance of a Stravinsky masterpiece. The beloved Bernstein score to a classic story of redemption. The brilliant Miles Davis work that ushered in the era of 鈥渃ool鈥� jazz. And a special arrangement of a universally known children鈥檚 tune.
All are on the program as the University of Colorado Boulder College of Music and El Sistema Colorado team up for a at Boettcher Concert Hall at the Denver Performing Arts Complex on April 26.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really a potpourri that is meant to demonstrate the talent of our students and give them a chance to perform in the premier concert hall on the Front Range,鈥� says Gary Lewis, Director of Orchestras at CU-Boulder.
The University Symphony Orchestra, the Wind Symphony and a special jazz ensemble will each perform a piece: Thompson Jazz Studies Director John Gunther will lead nine jazz performers in Miles Davis鈥� 鈥淏irth of the Cool,鈥� Director of Bands Donald McKinney and the Wind Symphony will play the Symphonic Suite from Leonard Bernstein鈥檚 鈥淥n the Waterfront鈥� score and the Symphony Orchestra will close the concert with Igor Stravinsky鈥檚 鈥淭he Rite of Spring.鈥�
鈥淣one of these pieces are the typical fare that a concertgoer would hear,鈥� says Lewis. 鈥淭his will give Denver audiences a chance to hear firsthand what we鈥檙e working on at the College of Music.鈥�
Perhaps the highlight of the program, Lewis says, is the Symphony Orchestra鈥檚 onstage collaboration with El Sistema Colorado. The organization, which hosts a music program for children in urban schools, seeks to empower children and change lives by teaching them music.
The chance to perform at Boettcher Concert Hall with the state鈥檚 flagship university orchestra aligns well with that mission, says Program Director and Choral Teaching Artist Jamie Wolf.
鈥淥ur students always need more opportunities experiencing music-making at high levels to inspire them to continue and help them to realize what they could achieve someday,鈥� Wolf says. 鈥淚nteracting with college music majors will be eye-opening; performing in such a grand venue in front of such a huge crowd is going to boost their self-confidence; and hopefully this event will give them a tangible example of how hard work really does pay off!鈥� 听
The two ensembles will perform a unique arrangement of variations on 鈥淭winkle Twinkle Little Star.鈥�
鈥淓ach one sounds completely different and will show off our kids in a unique way,鈥� says Wolf. 鈥淲e鈥檙e really looking forward to the arrangements that CU students will perform side-by-side with us, sharing music stands and playing along with our young musicians.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to help get the word out about El Sistema,鈥� says Lewis. 鈥淲hen I told the students we were collaborating with El Sistema, they were so excited. They can鈥檛 wait to work with and interact with these children.鈥�
And the students of El Sistema are thrilled too.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e in various states of nervousness and excitement,鈥� says Wolf. 鈥淓l Sistema Colorado has never performed with a collegiate ensemble before, and some of our beginner students will have never performed outside of their school before stepping onto the Boettcher stage!鈥�
El Sistema Colorado, which serves more than 700 students every year through its in-school, after-school and summer programs, is inviting all after-school students to perform, with more than 50 expected to be there. The organization has several connections to the College of Music, including graduates and students who are involved with the program.
The performance marks the fourth time in eight years that the College of Music has traveled to Boettcher鈥攁nd College of Music Dean Robert Shay says the goal is to build on the tradition.
鈥淎s we move ahead with the implementation of our strategic plan, we will be doing even more concerts like this, growing our presence in Denver and in other major urban centers around the country,鈥� he says.
Watch a preview of the performance, with Gary Lewis, Director of Bands Donald McKinney and Thompson Jazz Studies Program Director John Gunther:
