This October, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra presents “Convergence”, a live performance of fresh compositions by an extraordinary lineup of composers, recorded for a spring album release. Part of a larger five-year, five-album project, this initiative aims to bring new voices to the orchestral canon and highlight composers of color.
Tickets start at just $10 and can be purchased by visiting wcoconcerts.org/convergence or by calling 608.258.4141.
“‘Convergence’ is part of the project that’s about what orchestras will be playing 10, 50 or even 100 years from now” says Joe Loehnis, CEO of Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra. “The WCO is continually pushing boundaries to champion a diverse range of voices within the realm of classical music-it’s about taking in new perspectives and layers of sound that have been inspired by the impulses of modern culture – the beat of our society, and we hope you enjoy these works as much as we do.”
For this performance, the WCO has some heavy hitters at play.
From Michael Abels—known for his work on the soundtrack of Jordan Peele’s hit film “Nope” and the new “Star Wars” series—to the legendary compositional talents of Patrice Rushen and Valerie Coleman alongside rising star Andre Myers, the performance will be a one-night-only experience in Capitol Theater celebrating new composers.
The concert opens with “Fanfare and Fantaisie” by four-time GRAMMY nominee Patrice Rushen, followed by contemporary composer Andre Myers’ “Changes.” Selections from the “Nope” film suite by Michael Abels, a GRAMMY and EMMY nominee, and the recipient of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Music, will conclude the first half. Following intermission, audiences will enjoy “Umoja: An Anthem of Unity” by renowned composer and flutist Valerie Coleman, followed by another work by Abels, “Global Warming”.
Brace for community impact.
Sponsored by American Family Insurance and Madison Community Foundation, the WCO also engages with the UW-Madison Odyssey Project. Composers visit the UW Odyssey classroom and speak with students about their lives, their journey to success, and their compositional process. The students then attend the pre-concert discussion, the performance, and the experience is changing their lived experience of what going to the Orchestra means, and how to approach visiting places like the Overture Center for the Arts. A few quotes from last year’s experience with “Harmony in Black”.
“I wouldn’t have been in that room sitting across from composer Dr. Bill Banfield, composer Patrice Rushen and music director Andrew Sewell if it weren’t for the Odyssey Project. The pre-show talk was a treat. It gave me a guide for my ears and you could see the raw passion from both composers as they shared with us in loving detail what to listen for as an audience. During the show, I found it beneficial to actually close my eyes and absorb the music that way. My favorite moment was the violin solo from Banfield’s ‘Symphony No. 8’. I also remember a moment when the music shifted into a lovely, rhythmic sound reminiscent of swing… I love unpredictability, and I enjoyed ‘Symphony No. 8’ because it had little pops, so unexpected.” – Giana Mason, Odyssey Student ‘24
“It’s another way to further your thinking and tap into your emotions…I thought it was cool going to the orchestra because, just from my personal experiences, you don’t really see a lot of black people in those spaces. And I’ve been to the Overture Center plenty of times, and I’ve never known anyone who created music to have it performed at the orchestra – like to be the ‘big man’ behind the scenes, so it was a good experience.” – Synquar Harston, Odyssey Student ‘24
“I am so glad to be a part of this where we have black artists that are coming out and intertwining with our students and giving our students encouragement and telling their story and their experience. And as they [the composers] started towards the classroom, and watching the excitement of the students…sometimes you can’t put excitement into words.” – Char Braxton, Odyssey Ambassador, Alum ‘06
“I want to wholeheartedly thank and commend the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (WCO) for offering Odyssey and its members an opportunity to participate in Friday’s ‘Harmony in Black’. The compositions by Dr. William Banfield and Patrice Rushen were deeply moving under the care of conductor Andrew Sewell. The concert had more significance because the WCO facilitated an authentic, intentional relationship between the composers, Odyssey students/alumni, and WCO staff. Having Dr. Banfield and the incomparable Patrice Rushen come to an Odyssey class and personally extend an invitation was profound and impactful.
Profound because, in my observations, Black people living in Madison are not often afforded the opportunity to attend not only WCO performances but also most of the events that take place in the Overture Center for the Arts. In the past, I have lamented that I was one of only a handful of Black or brown faces in these traditionally white spaces. This opportunity was impactful because it was clear to me that WCO is committed to changing this dynamic. In a city that suffers from some of the worst racial disparities in the nation, access to the arts can not only serve to enrich but can offer tremendous healing and reflection. Basing their compositions on the lives of great Black leaders like Dr. Reverend King, Paul Robeson, and Frederick Douglass allowed Odyssey students and alumni a fantastic opportunity to reflect on the writings of King, Robeson, and Douglass that we discussed as part of Odyssey. It was a joy to listen to and feel the composers’ musical interpretations of these transformative heroes’ words and lives.” – Brian Benford, UW Odyssey Project Success Coach, Alum ‘07
Join the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra on October 10th at 7:30 PM in the Capitol Theater of the Overture Center for the Arts to experience “Convergence” as it’s performed live and recorded for an album. Tickets start at just $10 and can be purchased by visiting wcoconcerts.org/convergence or by calling 608.258.4141.
