Apr 24 Wednesday
HIROMI, pianoPUBLIQuartet: Hamilton Berry, Cello – Jannina Norpoth, Violin – Nick Revel, Viola – Curtis Stewart, Violin
Our opening night will blend the world of contemporary jazz and classical fusion as superstar pianist Hiromi and the acclaimed PUBLIQuartet team up for a unique collaboration. Known for her outgoing stage presence and personal style, Hiromi captivates audiences around the world with her dynamic energy and emotional depth. Her boundary-busting blend of genres has earned accolades and a devoted fan base for her creativity. Her critically-acclaimed albums include Spiral, Brain, and Voice, which showcase her distinctive compositions. The collaboration with PUBLIQuartet combines piano and string quartet to turn classical music on its head.
Join us for the After Party at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, where we’ll be surrounded by music AND art as we pay tribute to Japanese and American culture with live music, drinks, and food stations featuring traditional and fusion foods. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the colorful Dale Chihuly glass chandelier, “Kalamazoo Ruby Light” glowing from the South Street entryway.
Apr 26 Friday
Doors: 6:30PM | Show: 7:30PM
The Kalamazoo State Theatre is excited to announce an unforgettable night of music and nostalgia with The Magic Of Motown,” presented by Moxie Events. This spectacular show will light up the historic stage on Friday, April 26, promising an evening filled with the iconic sounds that defined a generation.
The Magic Of Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville, USA
Moxie Events brings to life the timeless music of Motown with “The Magic of Motown.” This enchanting show is not just a concert; it’s a celebration of the era that brought us some of the most influential music in history. With a cast of 15 powerhouse vocalists and a dynamic six-piece band, the show is set to recreate the captivating harmonies, smooth choreography, and distinctive costuming that made Motown an unforgettable part of our musical heritage.
Audiences will be transported back to the golden age of music with songs from legendary artists like The Temptations, The Jackson Five, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, and many more. The show promises to be a vibrant tribute to “Hitsville, USA,” capturing not just the sounds but also the spirit of Motown.
Apr 27 Saturday
Blues Aside$18.00Doors @ 7:30 pm
Show @ 8 pm
Lauri Jarski, vocals, cello, and a variety of stringed instruments
Cori Somers, violin
Carolyn Koebel, percussion
Apr 28 Sunday
Born in 2005, Harmony Zhu began piano study at The Juilliard School at age eight, with teachers including Emanuel Ax and Veda Kaplinsky. She was recognized as a Young Steinway Artist at age 10 and made her debut at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium at age 14. She won the 2021 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, becoming the youngest artist on the YCA roster. Named a 2024 Gilmore Young Artist in 2023, she is a student at the Brearley School in New York, class of 2024. Ms. Zhu will play selections by Chopin, Hayden, Schumann and Scriabin. Ms. Zhu's performance is presented by Sunday Afternoon Live in partnership with the Gilmore Piano Festival.
Sunday Afternoon Live! concerts are free to the public and include a family friendly reception where patrons can meet the artists and enjoy fellowship with each other.
The mission of Sunday Afternoon Live! is to enrich the cultural life of the greater Battle Creek Community and to continue the tradition of the First Congregational Church as a patron of artistic creativity and expression. We endeavor to do this by sponsoring a series of free concerts that present musical artistry that is exciting, beautiful, varied and enjoyable. We will underwrite the concerts by means of donors and sponsors in order to make the concerts available to the entire community.
Doors: 6:00PM | Show: 7:00PM
Embark on an unparalleled musical journey with Floyd Nation: Experience Pink Floyd at the historic Kalamazoo State Theatre on Sunday, April 28. This extraordinary event invites fans to delve into the legendary world of Pink Floyd, offering an immersive tribute that captures the essence of the band’s groundbreaking psychedelia and rock prowess. Set against the backdrop of KST’s renowned ambiance, the evening promises a fusion of spellbinding visuals, innovative audio, and captivating performances. Don’t miss your chance to secure a spot in the audience – tickets for this spectacular homage to Pink Floyd’s indelible legacy go on sale this Friday, February 9.
About to Floyd Nation:
Attending a Floyd Nation concert is so much more than listening to live music and watching a light show. This group delivers an authentic experience connecting them to their fans on a deep and soulful level. Some call it theater, others call it brilliant, and most say if you close your eyes you’ll swear you’re listening to Pink Floyd themselves.
Composed of a group of US-based musicians who are true fans of the music, Floyd Nation strives to carefully re-create the music, and more importantly the “feel” of Pink Floyd. They then deliver it with an impactful and highly personal experience.
Their concerts span a vast collection of albums such as The Wall, Dark Side of the Moon, Animals, Wish You Were Here, Meddle and The Division Bell.
Floyd Nation embodies the art, legacy and spirit of Pink Floyd that conveys a deep respect for the music created by one of the most awe-inspiring bands to ever take the world stage.
When you attend one of Floyd Nation’s live performances you’ll be immersed in sound, lights, and lasers. You’ll quickly develop an emotional connection to the group as they take you on an epic journey, bringing back your best memories of the greatest music ever created.
Apr 29 Monday
Pianist Awadagin Pratt and the Sphinx Virtuosi (launched in Ann Arbor, Michigan) will perform Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Piano Quintet in G Minor, Op. 1, and a new concerto by Xavier Foley, among other works. Sphinx Virtuosi features the nation’s top Black and LatinX musicians, a group of 38 soloists dedicated to increasing diversity in classical music. They will perform with esteemed classical pianist Awadagin Pratt, who has performed throughout the US at major venues including Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, and Carnegie Hall. Pratt is Professor of Piano at College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and Artistic Director of their Art of the Piano Festival.
Apr 30 Tuesday
In a special Festival event, British pianist Paul Lewis will present a survey of Franz Schubert’s monumental contribution to the classical repertoire: his piano sonatas. Mr. Lewis has received critical and public acclaim worldwide, consolidating his reputation as one of the world’s foremost interpreters of the central European classical repertoire. He regularly works as a soloist with the world’s great orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, London Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, LA Philharmonic, and the Royal Concertgebouw, and Cleveland Orchestras, among many others.
South African jazz pianist and composer Nduduzo Makhathini blends traditional jazz and innovative storytelling. He heads the music department at Fort Hare University, and has performed at festivals including the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and Essence Festival (New Orleans and South Africa), and in 2019 made his debut appearances at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York, and Jazz at Lincoln Center, where he was a featured guest with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
May 01 Wednesday
The newest members of the Gilmore Young Artists family come together in one of the loveliest venues in town. Ms. Shao will play Bach’s Partita 5, and Liszt’s Faust Waltz, and Ms. Zhu will play Chopin’s F Minor Fantasie and Kapustin’s Variations Op. 41. Together, the two will perform a world premiere and Gilmore commission of a work by Christopher Cerrone, two movements from Prokofiev’s Cinderella Suite, and Dvorak’s Slavonic Dances for piano four hands.