March IAS Features Branford Marsalis, Jefferson Pinder & More

While spring remains elusive, the March Iowa Arts Showcase supplies plenty of events to help you survive the final days of winter. Listen this Saturday at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. for:

·         Conductor of The National Symphony Orchestra of the Ukraine, Theodore Kuchar, sharing details about their upcoming performance at Stephens Auditorium in Ames

·         IPR’s Mark Simmet talking with Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips about his art exhibit at the Waterloo Center for the Arts

·         Jefferson Pinder delving into his exhibition and three multi-media performances at the Figge Art Museum

·         Internationally acclaimed Saxophonist Branford Marsalis speaking on his upcoming concert with Orchestra Iowa

Conductor of The National Symphony Orchestra of the Ukraine, Theodore Kuchar, shares details about their upcoming performance at Stephens Auditorium. Formed by the Council of Ministers of Ukraine in November of 1918, the NSOU is considered to be one of the finest symphony orchestras in Eastern Europe. Under Maestro Kuchar’s direction, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine became the most frequently recorded orchestra of the former Soviet Union and has received multiple awards. The concert takes place on Tuesday, March 7th at Stephens Auditorium in Ames.

Frontman of the psychedelic rock band The Flaming Lips, Wayne Coyne, is a multi-faceted artist. When he’s not making music with the group, Coyne creates multimedia artwork that offers a look inside his mind. His exhibit “Works by Wayne Coyne,” featuring an immersive aural and visual piece entitled “The King’s Mouth,” is currently on display daily and free of charge at the Waterloo Center for the Arts through April 23^rd.

Chicago-based artist Jefferson Pinder’s Ghost Light is a site-specific and performance based installation exploring race and conditioning in the Midwest. Based on several months of research, Pinder will encourage community members to reveal their feelings about their own personal experiences and perspectives. The exhibit opens March 4^th at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport with Pinder’s first art performance on March 11^th.

Internationally acclaimed and three-time Grammy award-winning saxophonist, Branford Marsalis, speaks on his upcoming performances with Orchestra Iowa. The program showcases the music of John Williams, Duke Ellington, Sally Beamish, and Aaron Copland. Marsalis speaks on his portion of the upcoming concerts on March 10th and 11th, his family history, and his future musical endeavors.