Picosa opens its fifth season with 'A Spectrum of America' Oct. 10
The opening concert of Picosa's fifth season celebrates the diversity of this nation with works by American composers.
The North Central College's ensemble in-residence will perform a free fall concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, in Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave. in Naperville.
Seth Boustead's "Three for Zhou B" is a celebration of the art of Chinese-American contemporary artists, The Zhou Brothers - ShanZuo and DaHuang Zhou, with this vibrant work for flute, clarinet, violin, and cello. Audiences will be able to study the works of art that inspired Boustead's beautiful piece.
Valerie Coleman, an accomplished flutist, composer, and founding member of the Imani Winds, created "Portraits of Langston," an exquisite setting of poetry by Langston Hughes, who was an African-American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist from Joplin, Missouri. Poems will be recited during the performance by Tony Kresl, LRC Director at Highlands Elementary in Naperville.
The remaining works on the program are by two particularly celebrated American composers. Aaron Copland, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants, became known as the "Dean of American Music". Audiences have embraced Copland's music and love its quintessentially Americana musical style with his depiction of American landscapes and culture. This setting of "Appalachian Spring" was created by Picosa's composer-in-residence Jonathon Kirk.
Pulitzer Prize winning contemporary American composer Jennifer Higdon has created two works that can only described as bright and bold with electrifying musical colors. Her String Trio for violin, cello, and piano, and "Smash" for full ensemble are a high energy romp from start to finish.
Picosa invites you to join them for this evening concert in Wentz Concert Hall. Be sure to stay afterwards for the "Meet the Musicians" gourmet dessert reception in the lobby.
Picosa features Jennie Oh Brown on flute, Andrea R. DiOrio on clarinet, Elizabeth Brausa Brathwaite on violin, Paula Kosower on cello, Kuang-Hao Huang on piano, and Jonathon Kirk as composer-in-residence.
Picosa embraces an eclectic range of repertoire in its approach to programming. The concerts present celebrated masterworks side-by-side with rare finds to make each concert program feel like a new discovery. With a body of repertoire that ranges from baroque to new experimental, for soloists to full ensemble, Picosa presents every work with sublime artistry and athletic virtuosity.
They embrace the music of Chicago by featuring new works by locally based composers each season. Additionally, the Interludes Chamber Ensembles program gives Picosa the opportunity to teach and feature student and adult-amateur small ensembles (duos and larger) of all ages in pre-concert performances.
For information, visit www.PicosaMusic.com.