KSO's Spring Pops Concert: A Tribute to Latin American Music

Get ready for an exhilarating evening as the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra presents its Spring Pops Concert on Friday, March 21, 2025, at 7:30 pm in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall at Northern Illinois University.

This vibrant program will transport audiences through the rich musical landscapes of Latin America, featuring works by Ginastera, Piazzolla, Villa-Lobos, and many more. The concert will also showcase the renowned NIU Steelband, directed by Liam Teague, adding a thrilling Caribbean flair to the night.

¡Compre entradas pronto! Don’t miss this electrifying celebration of Latin American music, rhythm, and culture.

𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤
Enhance your concert experience by attending a special pre-concert talk at 6:30 pm with Linc Smelser, KSO music director and conductor, where you’ll gain deeper insight into the music, composers, and cultural influences behind this dynamic program.

𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜
A performance in the concert hall lobby will be provided by NIU Mariachi, directed by Tony Ozuna.

𝐀 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚
This unforgettable concert features a mix of classical masterpieces, folk-inspired dances, and contemporary Latin hits:

𝐎𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
• "Tocata" from Bachianas Brasileiras No. 2 – Heitor Villa-Lobos (Brazil)
• Danzón No. 2 – Arturo Márquez (Mexico)
• Four Dances from Estancia – Alberto Ginastera (Argentina)
• Huapango – José Pablo Moncayo (Mexico)
• El Cóndor Pasa – Daniel Alomía Robles (Peru)
• Libertango – Astor Piazzolla (Argentina)
• Tico Tico No Fubo – Zequinha de Abreu (Brazil), orchestrated by Jamie Whitmarsh

The program also includes “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” the hit song from Disney's Encanto, composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, whose Puerto Rican and Mexican heritage influences his dynamic musical storytelling.

𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐦𝐬
• Caribbean Connection – Dennis Franklyn Williams aka Merchant (Trinidad), arranged by Kenneth Joseph
• Mambo Caliente – Arturo Sandoval (Cuba), arranged by Matt Schneider, orchestrated by Joshua Bedeau
• La Dueña del Swing – Los Hermanos Rosario (Dominican Republic), arranged and orchestrated by Joshua Bedeau
• La Vida es un Carnaval – Celia Cruz (Cuba), arranged by Kenneth Joseph
• Full of Vibe – Marge Blackman (Trinidad) and Aaron "Voice" St. Louis (Trinidad), arranged by Liam Teague

Dennis Franklyn Williams, known as Merchant, was a celebrated Calypsonian from Trinidad. His music, including Caribbean Connection, showcases the deep rhythmic and lyrical storytelling traditions of the region.

While Trinidad and Tobago is part of the Caribbean, it has a rich Latino cultural heritage stemming from its Spanish colonial past and ongoing connections with Venezuela. This influence is particularly evident in music, food, and traditions such as the Parang Festival, which blends Spanish and Caribbean musical styles and remains a vibrant part of Trinidadian culture.

The Dominican Republic, while a Caribbean nation, considers itself to be a part of Latin America, with a similar understanding of national and ethnic identity.

𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝
The NIU Steelband is dedicated to demonstrating the versatility and profundity of the steelpan, the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. Created in 1973 by G. Allan O'Connor, the NIU Steelband is the first active steel orchestra formed at an American university and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023. NIU is also one of the few institutions in the world at which students may pursue undergraduate and graduate music degrees with a steelpan emphasis. The ensemble has performed throughout the United States and across the globe.

After many years under the leadership of O'Connor and steelband legend Clifford Alexis, the ensemble is now directed by the head of steelpan studies and professor of music, Liam Teague. The band's instruments are maintained by Yuko Asada, music instrument technician, and she also significantly contributes to the daily operations of the NIU Steelband.

𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐰!
Join us for a Friday night filled with passion, melody, and the infectious energy of Latin America! This highly anticipated event is expected to sell out, so advance ticket purchases are encouraged. For more information and tickets, visit www.kishorchestra.org.