Copland at K

The Fine Arts Building in which we perform was opened in 1964, and the following academic year was a festival of the arts at Kalamazoo College. The capstone event of this year-long celebration was the visit of Aaron Copland to campus – in May of 1965, almost exactly 60 years before this concert’s date – to receive an honorary doctorate and to preside over performances of contemporary music, including his own. Accordingly, we’ll celebrate Copland with his music – the sunny Outdoor Overture and the epic ballet music to Billy the Kid – but also with the varied voices of several other American composers, contemporary to our present day: the ominous and obsessive strains of local composer Philip Rugel, the melancholy beauty of Mary Watkins, the intellectual and introspective lyricism of Steven Holochwost, and the cheeky, neo-Baroque high spirits of Viet Cuong. And in the process, we will feature some brilliant and virtuosic solo playing from within the orchestra (co-principal oboists Luke Conklin and Kaethe Durham), from our extended musical family (K College instructor and bassoonist Jason Kramer), as well as from a local guest (newly appointed assistant concertmaster of the Kalamazoo Symphony Stefan Hubenov).

Tickets to our fall and spring performances are available at the door, and cost $7 for general admission, $3 for students, and are free for students of Kalamazoo College.

Also check out other Music events in Kalamazoo, Entertainment events in Kalamazoo, Arts events in Kalamazoo.