The Southeast Kansas Symphony began its 110th season this Sunday afternoon with a celebration of Hispanic heritage, performing Danzas Latinas at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts as the last installment of the Hispanic Music Festival.
The concert featured classical and newer selections that were inspired by the music and dance traditions of Latin America. The director, Dr. Ramiro Miranda, led the performances to mark the closing event of the Hispanic Music Festival, and the first concert of the symphony’s Season to Dance series. The symphony performed 11 pieces and was also recorded by the Bicknell Center for the audiences to watch on YouTube.
“We’re both closing and opening at the same time,” Miranda told the attendees. “We are thrilled to be here. We have an exciting program for you. This season is our season of dance, and we celebrate many, many years of Southeast Kansas music.”
The program has included music inspired by Argentina, Paraguay, Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Cuba, blending melodies of Latin American folk and dance traditions with orchestral textures.
“The Southeast Kansas Symphony has a long and amazing history,” Miranda said. “We’re honored to be sharing this music with you, and to begin another season of these performances.”
Miguel Pacheco, the guest musician, performed at last year’s festival as well. He returned to Pitt this season with an accompaniment from the symphony. As he’s known for his virtuosic repertoire and stage presence, Pacheco entertained us once again with his technical skills.
Greg Campbell, a recent collaborator with Miranda, also joined the concert to help conduct several pieces. Miranda introduced Campbell to the attendees by reflecting on their experiences together.
“We actually met in Cleveland; we were doing a workshop,” Miranda said. “It was a wonderful week working with him, and we’ve been collaborating with him for a week here as well.”
The Southeast Kansas Symphony has been a fixture for the regional arts community for nearly a century, as it aimed to engage audiences of all ages through traditional, and innovative programming. This season, they focused on dance, highlighting the group’s versatility and commitment to celebrating different cultures.
“All of the symphony’s concerts this season will feature music connected to dance in some form, ranging from classical to contemporary works,” Miranda said.