A World Premiere for Kalamazoo
In the summer of 2021, Branford Marsalis performed in Kalamazoo for a Symphony summer performance at the Gilmore Car Museum. So began a multi-year residency project that would include the creation of a brand-new Musical Storybook, “Jammin’ in Kalamazoo,” and the commission of an orchestral work written by Marsalis to premiere in March 2024.
The KSO residency was centered around two major events: The creation of a new Musical Storybook, titled “Jammin’ In Kalamazoo,” which premiered on September 19, 2023. This premiere is followed by the publication of a book and audio recording to be shared with Kalamazoo educators; The world premiere performance of a commissioned piece for orchestra to be premiered by the Symphony and conducted by Maestro Julian Kuerti on March 23, 2024.