Uncategorized
Classical music goes wild at WMPAC
Published
6 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Sarah Gianelli EBS Associate Editor
BIG SKY – Over the last five years, wild Up—a highly unconventional classical music ensemble—has collaborated with orchestras, rock bands and cultural institutions around the world. On Saturday, Feb. 3, the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center will join those ranks.
Formed in 2010, the group’s early concerts at Los Angeles art studios and rock clubs generated a loyal fan base and, eventually an invitation to become University of California, Los Angeles’ Hammer Museum’s first ensemble in residence. After wild Up loged dozens of concerts in the Hammer’s halls, courtyards and galleries, the L.A. Times proclaimed the group “Best Classical Music of 2012.”
John Zirkle, WMPAC’s executive and artistic director, saw wild Up in LA a few years ago, and was impressed by their performance—and that they were represented by the same agency as the world-renowned Kronos Quartet, a group that left a lasting impression with WMPAC audiences in February 2016.
“What you see on stage looks like a classic chamber orchestra, but what [wild Up] is doing and how they present music and bring the audience in is totally unique,” Zirkle said. “There are elements of fun—they are really engaging from the get-go—as opposed to the seriousness with which classical music is usually associated.”
Zirkle added that even the way the ensemble presents itself serves to dispel the genre’s stigma of stuffiness. “These [musicians] are not the coat-and-tie type,” Zirkle said, describing them as “grungy and raucous.”
But, for Zirkle, the most compelling element of wild Up is the group’s philosophy that audiences should “literally get on top of the music.”
“They invite the audience to sit among them, so there isn’t this barrier,” Zirkle said. While he didn’t divulge the specifics of what would likely be “adventurous staging,” he did say that attendees shouldn’t expect a “traditional sit-down, listen to the music, and go home” kind of performance.
This dynamic and flexible band of musicians, led by artistic director and conductor Christopher Rountree, is committed to giving visceral, thought-provoking and mind-bending performances, unified by the belief that no music is off limits, and that a concert space should be as moving as the music heard in it.
A cultural reflection of emerging generations, lines are blurred, rules are broken, and concerts can become more of a “happening” than simply a performance. In a single engagement, the audience may experience the works of Erick Satie, Ted Hearne, John Lennon, Alexander Scriabin, Chris Cerrone, Velvet Underground, Steve Reich, Andrew McIntosh, Jen Hill and Nina C. Young, to name a few.
For wild Up’s Big Sky performance, the ensemble will take the audience on an exploratory tour of the music of ancient India, contemporary California and post-war New York that celebrates innovation while honoring the contributions of humanity’s cultural ancestors.
“As the name of the group suggests, it’s [going to be] wild,” Zirkle said, adding that he encourages even the most fervent of classical music detractors to attend and let their minds be blown.
wild Up performs at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center. Visit warrenmillerpac.org for tickets and more information.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
april, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before 9/10/2024:
more
Event Details
Children turning 5 on or before
9/10/2024: Kindergarten
enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year can be completed by following the
registration process now.
Children
born on or after September 11, 2019: 4K enrollment is now open for
families that have a 4-year-old they would like to enroll in our program for
the 2023-2024 school year. Please complete the 4K Interest Form to
express your interest. Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into
the 4K program. Enrollment is capped at twenty 4-year-olds currently
residing within Big Sky School District boundary full time and will be
determined by birth date in calendar order of those born on or after September
11, 2018. Interest form closes on May 30th.
Enrollment now is critical for fall preparations. Thank you!
Time
February 26 (Monday) - April 21 (Sunday)
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm We will combine the heart-opening powers of cacao with the transcendental powers of breathwork and sound. Together, these practices will give us the opportunity for a deep
more
Event Details
Saturday, March 23rd 6:00-8:00pm
Time
March 23 (Saturday) 6:00 pm - April 23 (Tuesday) 8:00 pm
Location
Santosha Wellness Center
169 Snowy Mountain Circle
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
more
Event Details
We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
Based on the bestselling “Limited Palatte, Unlimited Color” workbook written by John Pototschnik, the workshop is run by Maggie Shane and Annie McCoy, accomplished landscape (acrylic) and plein air (oil) artists,exhibitors at the Big Sky Artists’ Studio & Gallery and members of the Big Sky Artists Collective.
Each student will receive a copy of “Limited Palette, Unlimited Color” to keep and take home to continue your limited palette journey. We will show you how to use the color wheel and mix your own clean mixtures to successfully create a mood for your paintings.
Each day, we will create a different limited palette color chart and paint a version of a simple landscape using John’s directives. You will then be able to go home and paint more schemes using the book for guidance.
Workshop is open to painters (oil or acrylic) of any level although students must have some basic knowledge of the medium he or she uses. Students will be provided the book ($92 value), color wheel, value scale and canvas papers to complete the daily exercises.
Sundays, April 14, 21 and 28, 2024
Noon until 6PM.
$170.
Time
14 (Sunday) 12:00 pm - 28 (Sunday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome
Event Details
Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome to come, if you don’t know who to bring come alone this is a great mixer event! This is an event hosted by Big Sky OUT as we work to provide queer safe spaces throughout the community.
Time
(Sunday) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Cowboy Coffee
25 Town Center Ave. Big Sky, MT 59716