The College of Music at Michigan State University is thrilled to announce that a project created fully at MSU has been nominated for two Latin Grammy Awards. 

“King Mangoberry” is a suite of music for wind symphony written by MSU Professor of Composition Ricardo Lorenz that has now been recognized internationally, nominated for Best Classical Album and Best Classical Contemporary Composition for the track Pataruco.

The connections to MSU and the surrounding community are strong. In addition to Lorenz, this recording is:

• Performed by students in the MSU Wind Symphony,
• Conducted by MSU Professor of Music Kevin Sedatole, 
• Produced by MSU Assistant Professor of Music David Thornton, 
• Arranged by MSU Music alumnus Travis Higa, and 
• Recorded locally by MSU Music alumnus Sergei Kvitko on the Blue Griffin label. 

In addition, the artwork for the CD package was created by 7^th and 8^th grade students from Chippewa Middle School, Okemos, Mich.

“This is a significant recognition by the movers and shakers of the Latin music industry for the type of intercultural collaborations that happen inside the College of Music," Lorenz said. "This is particularly special to me because it involves Kevin Sedatole and Sergei Kvitko, both of whom I have worked with for the past 15 years, the musical influence of my native Venezuela, as well as the artistic talents of my son Niklas and some of his friends from his middle school in Okemos.”

It is a truly homegrown project, made entirely in Michigan, and it is now in the epicenter of Latin Music. According to Lorenz, it is rare to receive nominations of this kind for a recording created by an academic institution.

The track Pataruco features renowned maracas player Manuel Alejandro Rangel. It is the first time in Latin Grammy history that Venezuelan Maracas are in a classical music category nomination. 

For composer notes, artist bios and more details about the CD, click here (view or print PDF).
 

Listen to the full King Mangoberry release, nominated for Best Classical Album

Watch Pataruco, nominated for Best Classical Contemporary Composition