The world of classical music can be as cooperative and competitive as any sport, with plenty of individual effort and team play. The Musical Arts Youth Orchestra's Musical Legends series showcases both.
The concert features the premiere of Kenji Kuriyama's composition competition winner Guanacaste Fanfare. The soloist in Edouard Lalo's Concerto in d minor is concerto composition winner Gabe Martins.
IU Jacobs School of Music faculty members Don Freund and David Dzubay were advisers for the composition completion. "We had six worthy selections to choose from," said Freund, "and we narrowed the choices to two for the orchestra to read through. Then there was a vote by the students and their coaches."
The Composer
Composer Kenji Kuriyama is a graduate student in composition in the Jacobs School of Music. His Guanacaste Fanfare didn't begin in the form that the audience will hear on the twenty-fifth. "I had been working on a piece for clarinets. I like to combine Asian melodies with Latin rhythms; what I was working on fit the contest's proposal for an 'upbeat, lively' piece, so I went to work and recast it for orchestra. I was very pleased that it made the cut, and even happier when the votes came in and it was selected."
The Conductor
The director and conductor for the Musical Arts Youth Orchestra, Jose Valencia, is finishing his fifth year with the group. "I enjoy working with young musicians. Life is more colorful and exciting when music is part of its fabric. I'm especially pleased that they are having the chance to play these brand new pieces, pieces that are written by composers who aren't much older than they are."