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Michael Kondziolka: I am the Director of Programming here at UMS, based on the campus at the University
of Michigan in Ann Arbor. And I am responsible for the annual design and artistic planning
for our 133-year-old performing arts presenting organization. It makes us the second oldest
in the United States.
I am really excited about the upcoming season. We are focusing on many things, but the three
things I would really like to call out are our ongoing tradition of classical music presentation
housed in the iconic Hill Auditorium. A special curated thread focused on performing arts
of Asia. And then a third, very exciting ideas driven series of events focused on innovation.
That third idea of innovation in the arts is something that feels very timely. We are
living in a time right now where everyone is talking about how do we innovate to make
things better, what does it mean to be a maverick? I would say that this series focused on innovation,
which we have titled Renegade, is kicked off and culminates into really large scale events.
One is the world premiere of the last staging of 'Einstein on the Beach'.
The Renegade theme ends with a co-production with the San Francisco Symphony in Carnegie
Hall. This year we are focusing for the second time on a portfolio of artists from Asia.
Two that I am really excited about are the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre from Taipei, Taiwan.
This is a company of dancers whose work I have been following for 20 years and we are
finally going to have them here in the Power Center this October.
And then a young ensemble of singers and instrumentalists from Mongolia, that will be a very special
experience. And will not only be presented in the Michigan Theatre, but also for youth
from throughout Michigan who are coming to hear them as well in a daytime youth performance.
When you are 133-years-old you undoubtedly have long-term traditions, and the one that
we are the most associated with is an ongoing commitment to classical music. And this year
we have got the London Symphony here, we have got wonderful recitalists in Denis Matsuev
from Russia, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields with Joshua Bell, and ultimately I
think that these concerts, not only celebrate that artistic tradition, but also celebrate
this jewel that we have in Hill Auditorium.
And embedded in this community that comes together every year are a vast array of partners,
both inside and outside the University, which help us do what we do and ensure that audiences
have the best experience, they have a context for the work.
A lot of people ask me, well, why is it or how is it that all of this incredible activity
happens Ann Arbor, and I always invariably let them know that it would not happen without
the incredible community, which is predominantly defined by the University of Michigan every
year. An unbelievably accomplished community of scholars, teachers, competitive, accomplished
students and townspeople come together. And they really want world-class challenging artistic
experience in their life on a day-to-day basis.
And it says a lot about the kind of people who live here, a lot about the traditions
that have come before us, and a lot about the leadership and the commitment of the University
to ensure that this continues to be a part of our way of life.