KU School of Music Presents Prairie Winds Festival with The Westerlies
The University of Kansas School of Music is thrilled to announce the Prairie Winds Festival, featuring multiple wind ensembles and the genre-defying brass quartet, The Westerlies. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at the Lied Center in Lawrence, Kansas.
The Westerlies, hailed by the New York Times as "an arty quartet," will headline the festival with their unique blend of jazz, new classical, and Appalachian folk influences. Comprising childhood friends Riley Mulherkar and Chloe Rowlands on trumpet, and Andy Clausen and Addison Maye-Saxon on trombone, The Westerlies have captivated audiences from Carnegie Hall to Coachella. Described as "skilled interpreters who are also adept improvisers" by NPR's Fresh Air, the quartet's music is a rare hybrid that is both "folk-like and composerly, lovely and intellectually rigorous" (NPR Music).
As part of the Prairie Winds Festival, The Westerlies will collaborate with multiple ensembles, including the renowned KU Wind Ensemble. Conducted by Paul W. Popiel, The New York Times has praised the KU Wind Ensemble as "one of America’s most esteemed concert bands." This collaboration promises a musical journey that combines the precision of a string quartet, the audacity of a rock band, and the charm of a family sing-along.
The festival, hosted by the University of Kansas Bands, extends a special invitation to high school students to participate in the 22nd annual Prairie Winds Festival. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in insightful clinics with KU faculty, witness performances at the Lied Center, and enjoy the musical prowess of the KU Wind Ensemble, Crossroads Wind Symphony, and The Westerlies.
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, February 3, 2024
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Location: Lied Center, Lawrence, Kansas
Tickets: Tickets for the Prairie Winds Festival with The Westerlies can be purchased online at Lied Center Ticket Page.