Jacobs School of Music concert to feature world-famous conductor

The Jacobs School of Music’s summer Festival Orchestra series will perform its second show of the summer this week under the direction of guest conductor Bramwell Tovey.

The concert will be at 8 p.m. Thursday in the IU Auditorium. The cost for admission is $15 for adults and $8 for students.

Originally from England, Tovey is a Grammy Award-winning conductor, composer and pianist who has written more than 20 original works and will conduct this Thursday’s performance.

Here, he previews the concert which will feature Gershwin and Tovey’s original work.
Tovey notes the diversity is what most distinguishes the summer Festival Orchestra from others similar to it. 

“What you have here is a faculty of highly regarded professionals in the industry leading sections that include top students,” Tovey said. “It’s all the enthusiasm and energy of youth allied with wisdom and high-class experience.

“There is a mixture of top quality pros and students more here than any other place in the U.S.”

The first half of the performance would be made up of “Urban Runway,” one of Tovey’s original compositions that he described as being in the jazz-minimalist style.

Tovey also said it was one of the most cheerful and straightforward pieces he has ever written.

Also on the program is Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” for which Tovey will showcase his piano chops in what he calls a “light and summery” number.

In his first-ever visit to Bloomington, Tovey discovered his passion for the city.

“It’s been a stimulating 48 hours,” Tovey said. “The Jacobs school has a world-class reputation and you can really see why.

It’s a program of the highest pedigree and has wonderful faculty.

“And I loved Bloomington. It’s gorgeous.”

— Adam Lukach