A jazz work honoring athletes, researchers and a Nobel Peace Prize winner in University of Kansas history will soon premiere at the Lied Center.
The Lied Center has commissioned the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis to compose the “Wave the Wheat Suite,” according to a news release.
The 15 movements in the suite, each composed by a different orchestra member, represent 15 KU figures and their accomplishments in athletics and a variety of academic fields ranging from recent years to decades ago.
Lied Center Executive Director Derek Kwan said the Lied Center is excited to build on a past partnership with the orchestra.
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“The best part of the project is that sponsorship proceeds will establish an endowed fund to cover bus costs for Lawrence Public School students to attend age-specific performances annually at the Lied Center for free, in perpetuity — something that is truly unique to our community,” Kwan said in the release.
According to the release, the honorees, composers and movement sponsors include:
• Ochai Agbaji (men’s basketball); movement composed by Abdias Armenteros; sponsored by Jon & Vicki Jamison;
• Jim Bausch (men’s track & field, football); movement composed by Marcus Printup; sponsored by an anonymous donor in honor of Tom Rupp;
• Ray Evans (football, basketball); movement composed by Victor Goines; sponsored by Janis Bulgren;
• Barney Graham (vaccine pioneer, immunologist, virologist and clinical-trials physician); movement composed by Alexa Tarantino; sponsored by KU’s Office of the Chancellor;
• John Hadl (football); movement composed by Paul Nedzela; sponsored by Steve & Chris Edmonds;
• Ainise Havili & Kelsie Payne (volleyball); movement composed by Dan Nimmer and arranged by Sherman Irby; sponsored by Martha Gage in honor of Ralph Gage;
• Frank Mason III (men’s basketball); movement composed by Elliot Mason; sponsored by Dr. Larry Weeda Jr. & Sharon L. Polk;
• John McLendon (men’s basketball coach, Naismith Hall of Famer, inventor of the fast break); movement composed by Vincent Gardner; sponsored by John & Rosy Elmore;
• Billy Mills (men’s track & field); movement composed by Kenny Rampton; sponsored by Dave & Libby Domann;
• Al Oerter (men’s track & field); movement composed by Chris Crenshaw; sponsored by Bill & Marlene Penny;
• Loral O’Hara (NASA astronaut); movement composed by Sherman Irby; sponsored by Dr. Jim & Vickie Otten;
• Juan Manuel Santos (former President of Colombia, Nobel Peace Prize winner); movement composed by Carlos Henriquez; sponsored by Jeff & Mary Weinberg;
• Gale Sayers (football); movement composed by Wynton Marsalis; sponsored by Beverly Smith Billings in honor of Bob Billings;
• Marilynn Smith (women’s golf); movement composed by Obed Calvaire; sponsored by an anonymous donor in honor of Sue Mango; and
• Marian Washington (women’s basketball coach); movement composed by Chris Lewis; sponsored by Miles & Paula Schnaer.
The orchestra will perform the suite at a premiere show at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6 at the Lied Center, 1600 Stewart Drive.
Tickets, depending on selected seats, cost $35 to $55 for adults and $19 to $29 for students and youth. Purchase tickets by phone at 785-864-2787, in person at the ticket office, or online at lied.ku.edu.
“Wave the Wheat Suite” is the second original work the Lied Center has commissioned of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, the resident orchestra of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City led by Wynton Marsalis. The first, “Rock Chalk Suite,” premiered in 2018.
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