Philip Glass, one of the world’s most influential composers, will be in Stevens Point April 5–6 as part of the Sentry Insurance Invitation to the Arts “Year of Glass” series, sponsored by the Sentry Insurance Foundation in conjunction with the College of Fine Arts & Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Glass will give a solo piano performance, “Etudes and Other Work for Solo Piano,” at Sentry’s @1800 theater on Tuesday, April 5, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and available at the University Information and Tickets Office in the Dreyfus University Center concourse, 715-346-4100.
Glass has an extraordinary career as a composer, performer and collaborator of the arts. He has composed more than 20 operas, eight symphonies, two piano concertos and concertos for violin, piano, timpani, saxophone quartet and orchestra as well as soundtracks to films. He has collaborated with Paul Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Yo-Yo Ma, Doris Lessing, Twyla Tharp, Allen Ginsberg, Woody Allen, David Bowie and many others. He presents lectures, workshops and solo keyboard performances around the world and appears regularly with the Philip Glass Ensemble.
“Philip Glass is perhaps the most influential American composer of our time,” said Jeff Morin, dean of the College of Fine Arts & Communication. “By bringing such a talented musician, composer and collaborator to our community, the Sentry Insurance Foundation is providing a truly unique opportunity for students to interact with the person credited with transforming contemporary music.”
“We are excited about Philip Glass being part of the Sentry Insurance Invitation to the Arts series,” said Jim Weishan, president of the Sentry Insurance Foundation. “With his incredible accomplishments as a composer and musician, it is our hope that Mr. Glass will make a lasting impression on local students and followers of the arts.”
As part of the program’s outreach to students, Glass will host a screening of the film “Koyaanisqatsi” and will speak with high school and university students about his scoring of the film. Following the screening, Glass will work with UWSP music composition students.
Glass will also participate in a music orchestration seminar during which he will critique a student ensemble’s performance of the closing movement of his piece “Glassworks.” After the seminar, Glass will deliver a lecture about creative collaborations in the arts to high school and university students.
Now in its seventh year, the Sentry Insurance Invitation to the Arts program provides local students, grade school through college, opportunities to interact with outstanding professionals in the fine arts. Visit the College of Fine Arts & Communication for additional information and a schedule of events. Find “UWSP College of Fine Arts & Communication” on Facebook for future and post events, alumni stories and student updates. Contact: C.J. Robinson, 715-346-3056.
