National Medal of Arts, Pulitzer Prize, and Grammy Award-winning composer and pianist William Bolcom comes to Western Washington University for a weekend of concerts and masterclasses in celebration of his 80th birthday. The festival begins with compositions for orchestra and chamber ensembles, including Symphony No. 2 "Oracles."

In honor of illustrious American composer William Bolcom's 80th birthday, this performance features a full program of Mr. Bolcom’s chamber music, including the World Premiere of his Dark Dreams that will Not Disappear, commissioned and performed by violist Jacob Adams and pianist Angela Drăghicescu for this occasion. All-Bolcom program also includes a number of his popular rags, Fairy Tales (for Viola, Cello, and Bass), Let Evening Come (for Soprano, Viola, and Piano). Featuring Jacob Adams, viola; Angela Drăghicescu, piano; Elias Goldstein, viola; Dennis Parker, cello; Linda Tsatsanis, soprano; Yung-chiao Wei, double bass

Stephen Farr, organ; Thursday Lunchtime Concerts, Organ Series, Americana ‘18

Jacob Adams, viola; Angela Drăghicescu, piano; Elias Goldstein, viola; Dennis Parker, cello; Linda Tsatsanis, soprano; Yung-chiao Wei, double bass

University of Central Arkansas Wind Ensemble, Joseph Alessi, trombone

Lucrezia (Bolcom/Campbell) @ Western Washington University Apr 19 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Description The 50 minute romp is a zarzuela riff on Machiavelli’s story “La Mandragola”, in which Lucrezia, an intelligent seductress, takes charge of her own needs and tricks her suitors into not only giving her pleasure, but also their money. A game of seduction and love, riddled with humor and coy femininity, “Lucrezia” features the iconic art song style of Bolcom (“McTeague”, “A View from the Bridge” and “A Wedding”), with a pun-laced libretto by Mark Campbell.

Stage Direction: Heather Dudenbostel

Lucrezia (Bolcom/Campbell) @ Western Washington University Apr 19 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Description The 50 minute romp is a zarzuela riff on Machiavelli’s story “La Mandragola”, in which Lucrezia, an intelligent seductress, takes charge of her own needs and tricks her suitors into not only giving her pleasure, but also their money. A game of seduction and love, riddled with humor and coy femininity, “Lucrezia” features the iconic art song style of Bolcom (“McTeague”, “A View from the Bridge” and “A Wedding”), with a pun-laced libretto by Mark Campbell.

Stage Direction: Heather Dudenbostel

Lucrezia (Bolcom/Campbell) @ Western Washington University Apr 19 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Description The 50 minute romp is a zarzuela riff on Machiavelli’s story “La Mandragola”, in which Lucrezia, an intelligent seductress, takes charge of her own needs and tricks her suitors into not only giving her pleasure, but also their money. A game of seduction and love, riddled with humor and coy femininity, “Lucrezia” features the iconic art song style of Bolcom (“McTeague”, “A View from the Bridge” and “A Wedding”), with a pun-laced libretto by Mark Campbell.

Stage Direction: Heather Dudenbostel

Joelle Lamarre, soprano; Sheryl Lott, piano

Lucrezia (Bolcom/Campbell) @ Western Washington University Apr 19 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Description The 50 minute romp is a zarzuela riff on Machiavelli’s story “La Mandragola”, in which Lucrezia, an intelligent seductress, takes charge of her own needs and tricks her suitors into not only giving her pleasure, but also their money. A game of seduction and love, riddled with humor and coy femininity, “Lucrezia” features the iconic art song style of Bolcom (“McTeague”, “A View from the Bridge” and “A Wedding”), with a pun-laced libretto by Mark Campbell.

Stage Direction: Heather Dudenbostel

2018 Piano Project: Sour Flowers & Enchanted Gardens: The UConn piano studio presents works for solo piano and two pianos by living American composers. The program includes composer Richard Wilson’s Sour Flowers, a piano cycle in the form of a fifteenth-century herbal guidebook, selections from Richard Danielpour’s two books of preludes titled The Enchanted Garden, as well as William Bolcom’s The Garden of Eden – a cycle of rags for two pianos.

Concert Suite [with Tim McAllister, saxophone]; Univ. of Mich. Concert Band; Courtney Snyder, conductor

Univ. of Mich. Symphony Band; Michael Haithcock, conductor

Soloist: Paul Nolen, Conductor: Anthony Marinello, Illinois State University Wind Ensemble

Univ. of Mich. Symphony Band; Michael Haithcock, conductor

Sasha Cooke, mezzo-soprano; A setting of the famous poem by Lewis Carroll, composed especially for Ms. Cooke.

Regional Band Conference: Graceful Ghost Rag; Univ. of Mich. Concert Band; Courtney Snyder, conductor

Sasha Cooke, mezzo-soprano - A setting of the famous poem by Lewis Carroll, composed especially for Ms. Cooke.

Graceful Ghost Rag -- Univ. of Mich. Concert Band; Courtney Snyder, conductor