KSU Music Guest Artist Series: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, American Brass Quintet, More

The 2013-2014 Kennesaw State University School of Music concert season will feature a unique and eclectic mix of guest artists. 

All of the performances will be held in Morgan Hall of the Dr. Bobbie Bailey & Family Performance Center, KSU’s world-class concert hall.

The Guest Artist Series will feature a variety of exciting musicians bringing their talents to KSU throughout the year. "These guest artists are here not only to perform, but each of them will interact with our students in an educational capacity through coaching and mentoring activities," David Daly, Director of Programming and Facilities for the School of Music, said in a press release.

The Series kicks off on Monday, Sept. 16 with the award-winning sibling duo of David and Julie Coucheron, violinist and pianist.  

The Series continues on Saturday, Oct. 5 with Petr Nouzovský, cello, and Patricia Goodson, piano. The duo will present a program titled “Degenerate Music,” featuring performances of chamber works highlighting music created by Jewish composers and influenced by Jewish culture that was banned by the Nazis before and during World War II.

On Thursday, Oct. 17, Jessica Rivera, soprano;Kelly O’Connor, mezzo-soprano; and Robert Spano, piano, will perform on the Morgan Hall stage. The trio will come together for a special recital featuring classic operatic vocal repertoire as well as newly commissioned works.

World-renowned pianist Jeremy Denk will make his first visit to KSU on Wednesday, Nov. 20. His performance will feature both his solo repertoire as well as a unique collaboration with the KSU Symphony Orchestra.

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, featuring conductor Robert Spano and pianist Wu Han, will perform on Friday, Jan. 24. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will be joined by the equally impressive Wu Han. The performance will feature Benjamin Britten’s Piano Concerto and Hector Berlioz’s Symphony Fantastique. 

The Kennesaw State Festival of New Music (KSFNM) will return from Feb. 17-21, celebrating the work of female artists with creative approaches to music making and exploring music that challenges definition and breaks barriers. The festival consists of four different concerts. The 2014 KSFNM will feature guest composer Chen Yi and a performance by the KSU Wind Ensemble on Tuesday, Feb. 18; the KSU Symphony Orchestra and choruses will take the stage on Wednesday, Feb. 19; the KSU Jazz Ensembles will perform the music of Maria Schneider on Thursday, Feb. 20; and guest artists Tift Merritt, guitar, and Simone Dinnerstein, piano, will close the festival with a performance on Friday, Feb. 21.

The Guest Artist Series will conclude on Friday, March 21, with a performance by the American Brass Quintet.