A Special 10th Anniversary Performance

Rare and extraordinary are just a couple words used to describe John Corigliano’s Symphony No. 3 “Circus Maximus.” They are also words spoken by members of the MSU Wind Symphony when talking about the opportunity to perform this concert at Wharton Center and the chance to take it to the world’s most prestigious stage — Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Local patrons got the chance to experience this 10th anniversary performance of “Circus Maximus,” a contemporary and extraordinary work written by John Corigliano, on February 6 at Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall. “Monumental” is how Kevin Sedatole, director of bands at MSU and conductor of the ensemble, describes this amazing work by Corigliano. “We have been planning this performance for a long while now," continues Sedatole. “Our ensemble is ready and eager to share this amazing concert.”

Other works include: Traveler by David Maslanka, and Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan by John Corigliano, which includes a soprano solo from College of Music alumna Lindsay Kesselman.

Jane Sylvester, saxophonist with the MSU Wind Symphony, describes thte experience as “The opportunity of a lifetime.” During Corigliano’s visit in September, she got the chance to work with him on his Grammy-award winning song cycle, Mr. Tambourine Man. “As musical artists, we aspire to one day experience the magic of performing at Carnegie Hall,” continues Sylvester. “But also, collaborating with Dr. Sedatole, friends, colleagues, and especially, John Corigliano—this is truly a dream come true.”

After the February 6 concert, the ensemble will have additional stops at Penn State University and Roxbury High School in New Jersey before they arrive in New York to perform at Carnegie Hall. 

Tickets are available through the Carnegie Hall online box office.

John Corigliano

Award-winning composer John Corigliano has written some of the richest, unusual, and most celebrated bodies of work to be released within the past 40 years. His music has been described as the perfect harmony of traditional and innovative, earning him the Pulitzer Prize, the Grawemeyer Award, and four Grammy Awards. His works have been performed and recorded by many prominent orchestras, soloists, and chamber musicians throughout the world.

Circus Maximus

Circus Maximus (Symphony No. 3) is a symphony for large wind ensemble, written by American composer John Corigliano and premiered in 2004. Named for the Roman arena where up to 300,000 spectators watched chariot races and brutal battles, Corigliano focused his work on the parallels between the volatile entertainment of Roman days and the TV violence and harsh reality shows of present times. According tothe composer, he built his Symphony No. 3 “to embody and to comment on this massive and glamorous barbarity.”

MSU Wind Symphony

This ensemble is comprised of a pool of approximately 60 musicians who present concerts as a full ensemble and as wind and percussion chamber groups. Chosen by audition, members include the most outstanding wind, percussion, keyboard, string bass and harp majors in the MSU College of Music. The group is dedicated to the performance of the finest wind repertoire regardless of the period or disposition of the instrumental forces. Since its inception, the MSU Wind Symphony has been a champion for new repertoire for the wind band. MSU Wind Symphony performances have won high praise from many world-class composers including John Corigliano, Karel Husa, Donald Grantham, Michael Colgrass, David Maslanka, Michael Daugherty, Ian Krouse, Joel Puckett, Steven Bryant, John Mackey, and Jonathan Newman.