Legacy will be the final performance for Maestro Kelly Kuo (UO class of ’97) as OMP’s artistic director and conductor. He has served in this role for 12 years having “transformed this chamber group into…a band of professional, enthusiastic and superior musicians, playing confidently as one unit” (The Register Guard). He was honored as UO Distinguished Alumni in 2018 (https://musicanddance.uoregon.edu/alumni). 

For his final performance as Artistic Director, Maestro Kuo has chosen to focus on themes that are especially meaningful for his relationship with OMP.  To represent his dedication to programming a balance of familiar and new works to our audiences, Nokuthula Ngwenyama’s profound Primal Message contains a compelling message of intellectual and emotional beauty.  Like previous winners of OMP’s annual Young Soloist Competition, founded by Mo. Kuo, who are already forging paths into the competitive professional world of music, this season’s winners are expected to be shining examples of the musical talent that is being produced in Oregon.  Finally, as it was his mentor, former Professor of Piano Dean Kramer, who was the piano soloist in his audition for OMP, Kelly found it fitting to invite Dean to perform Beethoven’s epic “Emperor” concerto as a bookend to his tenure.

Buy tickets: $5–$100