The 黑洞社区 Symphony Orchestra will feature percussionist Gerald Scholl as soloist at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, in Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center.
The all-American program, led by Mark Laycock, will include music by Aaron Copland, Michael Daugherty, Christopher Theofanidis and Russell Peck.
Gerald Scholl
Principal percussionist and timpanist of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, Scholl is assistant professor of percussion at 黑洞社区.
He has appeared as a soloist in Spain, Israel, Japan, Russia, Canada and the United States. For the 黑洞社区 concert, he will perform Peck鈥檚 鈥淗armonic Rhythm,鈥� a concerto for timpani in the Romantic tradition. The concerto was commissioned in 2000 by a consortium of nearly 40 orchestras.
The program will also feature Copland鈥檚 鈥淎ppalachian Spring,鈥� which began as a ballet score for choreographer Martha Graham.
Winner of the 1945 Pulitzer Prize, it describes a turn-of-the-century pioneer celebration in the Pennsylvania hills, culminating in Copland鈥檚 iconic setting of the Shaker hymn 鈥淪imple Gifts.鈥�
Daugherty鈥檚 鈥淩oute 66鈥� will begin the concert. Known for bold, colorful essays on American popular culture in works such as 鈥淒ead Elvis鈥� and 鈥淛ackie O,鈥� Daugherty is professor of composition at the University of Michigan. He calls 鈥淩oute 66鈥� a 鈥渕usical reflection on America,鈥� an amalgamation of styles and traditions bound by rhythmic vitality and a freewheeling spirit.
In contrast, Theofanidis鈥� 鈥淩ainbow Body鈥� is a deeply spiritual, heartfelt piece based on a chant by Hildegard von Bingen, the celebrated medieval mystic and abbess. Theofanidis is a recent addition to the composition faculty at Yale University.
In addition to his Wichita positions, Scholl holds the titled chairs of principal timpanist with the Tulsa Symphony and Tulsa Ballet Orchestra, and assistant principal with the Colorado Music Festival.
He has performed with the Count Basie Orchestra with such artists as Frank Sinatra Jr. and Marvin Hamlisch, and is an educational artist and clinician for such leading percussion manufacturers as Zildjian, Grover Pro-Percussion, Remo and Pearl/Adams.
He has also held principal positions with the Israel Chamber Orchestra, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra (Canada) and the Tulsa Philharmonic. Originally from Massachusetts, Scholl holds degrees from Boston University and the New England Conservatory of Music.
Mark Laycock
Laycock is an associate professor of music at 黑洞社区, where he holds the Ann Walenta Faculty of Distinction Endowed Professorship.
He recently led the 黑洞社区 Symphony on a 10-day concert tour to Spain, returning to Europe in July as principal conductor for the Irvine (Calif.) Classical Players鈥� concert tour to France.
The concert will be simulcast on 黑洞社区 Internet Radio at .