Since 1977, the Denver Young Artists Orchestra has nurtured the next generation of musicians, performing some of the greatest masterpieces of the classical-music cannon. The DYAO Spectacular is Sunday, February 20 at 2:30 p.m. in Boettcher Concert Hall. This concert features all of the ensembles of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra program, as well as a special collaborative performance with a taiko drumming ensemble from the Japanese Arts Network.
The partnership with DYAO and the Japanese Arts Network (JA-NE) centers around a collaborative performance, and a lobby installation that will explore the Japanese American historical experience.
Musicians from One World Taiko and Mirai Daiko Taiko ensembles will join DYAO’s Conservatory Orchestra for a portion of the program.
The first piece, Luigi Morleo’s On Western Terror 8, offers an artistic critique of the legacy of Western colonialism and the tragedy that resulted. A portion of this performance will be included as part of the Mile High Japanese American Citizen League’s annual Day of Remembrance program, remembering Executive Order 9066 on February 19th, 2022.
The taiko ensemble and Conservatory Orchestra will perform a second piece together which offers a stark contrast that features the well-known jazz tune, “Sing, Sing, Sing” arranged by Gary Tsujimoto of One World Taiko with taiko song Gendai Ni Ikuru (Living in the Present).
The program also includes several orchestral favorites including Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, Benjamin Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 (Unfinished), and excerpts from Holst’s Saint Paul Suite.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and FREE for students or teachers with ID. You can get tickets here or by calling 303-623-7876. For more information, please go to dyao.org.