Cedar City: In celebration of America 250 the Orchestra of Southern Utah performs some great American compositions on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 7:30 p.m. in the Heritage Theater in Cedar City. Starting with the , we pay tribute to our country's founding. The song originated after the bombardment of Fort Henry and a poem by Francis Scott Key in 1814. It became the national anthem in 1931.
Carylee Zwang, OSU Music Director, conducts the orchestra with music that ranges from the American Revolution into the 20th century development of jazz, a uniquely American musical form. "The OSU season this year is America's Playlist, as we explore a wide variety of American music," said Zwang.
Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin epitomizes the fusion of styles that characterize American music, with elements of syncopated jazz and classical forms. Gershwin wrote, "I heard it as a sort of musical kaleidoscope of America, of our vast melting pot, of our unduplicated national pep, of our metropolitan madness." Christian Bohnenstengel plays the exciting piano concerto with Trevor Davis setting the mood with the memorable opening clarinet solo. Both are on the SUU Music Department faculty. Bohnenstengel feels equally at home in a wide range of musical genres. Praised as “a master of contrasts” (Aalener Nachrichten) and for his ability to “put the audience into a state of sheer awe” (Gmünder Tagespost), Christian’s performances have taken him all over the United States, to South America, Asia, and to Europe. Christian is a founding member of Southern Utah University’s faculty jazz combo Kind of Blue, and he frequently performs with various jazz ensembles and combos. He is familiar to OSU audiences playing keyboard in Handel's Messiah. Davis is the Director of Woodwinds and also performs many genres of music. Both have performed with local jazz ensembles as well in many classical music concerts.
Aaron Copland wrote the Rodeo Suite in 1942 for dancer Agnes DeMille. The ballet captures the spirit of the American West, starting with Buckaroo Holiday and ending with the rousing Hoedown. Copland incorporated danceable, popular fiddle tunes into the piece and it has remained one of the most popular of American compositions. The John Mead Dance Company (JMDC) will be dancing to the live orchestra for this celebrated music. Building on a lifetime of dance in New York, Singapore, and many other locales, and after having moved to Cedar City in 2023, Mr. Mead and his wife, Mei Chian Lim, presented their professional dance company's debut concert here at the Heritage Theater this past fall, featuring all local dancers who have auditioned into the company, plus a special guest dancer from New York.
The haunting Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber was originally composed for string quartet. It has become internationally famous as a soundtrack for films such as Elephant Man and Platoon. The pathos of the music made it suitable for several prominent events including the funerals of Albert Einstein, President Roosevelt and President Kennedy. It was also performed at a 9/11 memorial concert. Assistant conductor David Jordan will direct this piece.
Another popular American composer was Leroy Anderson who created hits like Sleigh Ride and the Typewriter for the Boston Pops Orchestra. Blue Tango was a top Billboard piece in 1952. It was the first instrumental recording to sell one million copies. Anderson was a translator during WWII in Iceland. His family was from Sweden and he had been studying Scandinavian languages at Harvard before the war.
The Entertainer by Scott Joplin received new attention in the movie The Sting with Paul Newman and Robert Redford. Joplin helped popularize ragtime music during the World Fair of 1893 in Chicago. He was originally from Texas, but later lived in New York. His music became foundational for the developing jazz genre.
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy was one of the most popular of the Andrew Sisters' songs from World War II. The vocal quartet SideNote will perform with the orchestra. The song was introduced in an Abbot and Costello movie in 1941. Bette Midler, Christina Aguilera, and other popular vocalists have frequently performed this "jump blues song".
The French composer Henry Vieuxtemps wrote Souvenir d'Amerique while he was on a trip to New Orleans in 1843. The elaborate variations on Yankee Doodle were originally for violin solo with piano, but OSU will play an orchestra arrangement. The recent Ken Burns television series on the American Revolution reminds us that that French were essential to the success of the war. The Yankee Doodle melody predates the American Revolution and the mocking words by the British were updated by the Americans to the current version.
"This America 250 concert promises to be a highlight of the season," said Harold Shirley, OSU President. "We hope you will join us."
Lobby music before the concert will be provided by pianist Sophie Heaton.
Tickets are available at myosu.org. Children over five are welcome with adult supervision. No babies or smaller children please, as the concert will be recorded. The Orchestra of Southern Utah is a community orchestra of professionals and dedicated amateurs that brings live music performances to our area.
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For more information: Amy Gold, OSU Manager, 435-233-8185
Who: Orchestra of Southern Utah
What: America 250 Concert
When: Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Heritage Theater, 105 N. 100 East, Cedar City
Why: Celebration of great American music
How: Orchestra and guest performers bring these iconic pieces to life.
Preview the Music: https://osulistening.blogspot.com/2026/01/america-in-harmony-listening-links.html
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| John Mead Dance Company will perform during Copland's Rodeo Suite. |
Pianist Christian Bohnenstengel feels equally at home in a wide range of musical genres. Praised as “a master of contrasts” (Aalener Nachrichten) and for his ability to “put the audience into a state of sheer awe” (Gmünder Tagespost), Christian’s performances have taken him all over the United States, to South America, Asia, and to Europe. Christian is a founding member of Southern Utah University’s faculty jazz combo Kind of Blue, and he frequently performs with various jazz ensembles and combos.
Christian has performed on public radio, and he has presented at state, regional, national and international conferences. David DeBoer Canfield (Fanfare Magazine) remarked about his Albany Records CD Set No Limits with clarinetist Dr. Jessica Lindsey that the “piano parts are superbly rendered by Christian Bohnenstengel, whose artistry also greatly impresses me.” His latest recordings are Jazz Hands II with the Shawn Owens Project Trio and Southern Utah Jazz Collective.
Christian has been Director of Keyboard Studies at Southern Utah University since 2011. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Missouri Western State University, and he earned Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Christian founded the MTNA collegiate chapter at SUU, and he served as chair for collegiate programs on the UMTA state board for several years. He currently serves as secretary for the Southwest Chapter of the College Music Society.
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| SideNote Quartet will liven up the Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy |
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| Carylee Zwang directing OSU for the Rock Gold Concert |
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