The Lied Center of Kansas has commissioned the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (JLCO) to compose a new work, “Wave the Wheat Suite,” which will be premiered at the Lied Center on Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m. The 15 movements in the suite, each composed by a different JLCO member, capture the spirit of 15 seminal figures throughout KU’s history, acknowledging great accomplishments in a variety of fields and athletics.
“Wave the Wheat Suite” is the second original work the Lied Center has commissioned of the JLCO. The first, “Rock Chalk Suite,” honored 15 KU basketball legends and premiered at the Lied Center in 2018, with a recording that was released in 2020. “Rock Chalk Suite” was the first time JLCO was commissioned to create a new work as a collective.
“We are so excited to build upon the incredible success of ‘Rock Chalk Suite’ with another musical work celebrating 15 KU luminaries in collaboration with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. The KU legends who inspired this work range from a Nobel Prize winner and astronaut to a four-time Olympic Gold Medalist and founding member of the LPGA. The best part of the project is that sponsorship proceeds will establish an endowed fund to cover bus costs for Lawrence Public School students to attend age-specific performances annually at the Lied Center for free, in perpetuity—something that is truly unique to our community,” said Lied Center Executive Director Derek Kwan.
Each movement is sponsored by individual donors, and the KU legends highlighted in the suite are:
KU HONOREES, COMPOSERS AND MOVEMENT SPONSORS
- Ochai Agbaji (men’s basketball); movement composed by Abdias Armenteros; sponsored by Jon & Vicki Jamison
- Jim Bausch (men’s track & field, football); movement composed by Marcus Printup; sponsored by an anonymous donor in honor of Tom Rupp
- Ray Evans (football, basketball); movement composed by Victor Goines; sponsored by Janis Bulgren
- Barney Graham (vaccine pioneer, immunologist, virologist and clinical-trials physician); movement composed by Alexa Tarantino; sponsored by KU’s Office of the Chancellor
- John Hadl (football); movement composed by Paul Nedzela; sponsored by Steve & Chris Edmonds
- Ainise Havili & Kelsie Payne (volleyball); movement composed by Dan Nimmer and arranged by Sherman Irby; sponsored by Martha Gage in honor of Ralph Gage
- Frank Mason III (men’s basketball); movement composed by Elliot Mason; sponsored by Dr. Larry Weeda Jr. & Sharon L. Polk
- John McLendon (men’s basketball coach, Naismith Hall of Famer, inventor of the fast break); movement composed by Vincent Gardner; sponsored by John & Rosy Elmore
- Billy Mills (men’s track & field); movement composed by Kenny Rampton; sponsored by Dave & Libby Domann
- Al Oerter (men’s track & field); movement composed by Chris Crenshaw; sponsored by Bill & Marlene Penny
- Loral O’Hara (NASA astronaut); movement composed by Sherman Irby; sponsored by Dr. Jim & Vickie Otten
- Juan Manuel Santos (former President of Colombia, Nobel Peace Prize winner); movement composed by Carlos Henriquez; sponsored by Jeff & Mary Weinberg
- Gale Sayers (football); movement composed by Wynton Marsalis; sponsored by Beverly Smith Billings in honor of Bob Billings
- Marilynn Smith (women’s golf); movement composed by Obed Calvaire; sponsored by an anonymous donor in honor of Sue Mango
- Marian Washington (women’s basketball coach); movement composed by Chris Lewis; sponsored by Miles & Paula Schnaer
Led by Managing/Artistic Director and nine-time Grammy-winner Wynton Marsalis, the JLCO comprises 15 of the finest jazz soloists and ensemble players today. The group has been the resident orchestra of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City (Frederick P. Rose Hall, “The House of Swing”) since 1988, and the orchestra spends over a third of the year on tour across the world.
Tickets to the world premiere of “Wave the Wheat Suite,” composed and performed by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, on Nov. 6 can be purchased at lied.ku.edu or the Lied Center Ticket Office.
Lied Center Ticket Office:
1600 Stewart Dr., Lawrence, Kan.
785-864-2787
Hours: weekdays, 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Media Contact:
Betsy Ostrander
Marketing Communications Coordinator
Lied Center of Kansas
785-864-2722 • bostrander@ku.edu