South Kansas Symphony to Premiere "Malaqatin Meetings" in Multi-City Concert Series

The South Kansas Symphony, Inc. (SKS) is proud to announce a series of upcoming performances featuring the world premiere of Malaqatin Meetings, a groundbreaking new symphonic work. This ambitious project, composed by Wichita Symphony Orchestra cellist Dr. Susan Mayo, fosters a musical dialogue between the cultures of Kansas and Pakistan as part of the ongoing cultural exchange project, Yakja Hona.

The concert series will take place at three regional locations:

• Sunday, April 26 at 3:00 PM at Richardson Performing Arts Center (Southwestern College) in Winfield, KS

• Monday, April 27 at 7:00 PM at Peabody/Burns High School in Peabody, KS

• Tuesday, May 19 at 7:00 PM at the Brown Center at Cowley College in Arkansas City, KS

  
  

In addition to the new piece, the symphony will perform Gabriel Fauré’s Pavane and Howard Hanson’s Symphony No. 2 “Romantic.” Cowley College and SKS clarinetist Abigail Gill will also perform Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major K. 622 exclusively at the May 19 performance in Ark City.

Malaqatin Meetings is a collaborative work written for the South Kansas Symphony and the Multifarious Trio, an international trio known for weaving inventive improvisations through jazz and avant-garde sounds. The performance will blend Western classical structures with Eastern classical improvisatory traditions.

The three-movement work is inspired by Pakistani visual patterns, which will be brought to life through projected media created by artist John Harrison.

• Movement I, "Thatta": Inspired by the intricate 17th-century tile work of the Shah Jahan Mosque.

• Movement II, "Lahore": Based on a 17th-century carpet design from Lahore.

• Movement III, "Chaukhandi": Influenced by the 500-year-old Chaukhandi Tombs, utilizing the traditional teen taal rhythm used by tabla players.

  
  

The symphony will feature members of Multifarious: Tim Snider (violin), Dr. Courtney Long (soprano saxophone), and composer Dr. Susan Mayo (cello) as soloists. Dr. Michael Christensen, Director of Instrumental Music at Cowley College and Conductor of SKS, will serve as conductor and alto saxophone soloist.

Pictured L to R: soloists Mayo, Long, Snider, and Christensen, and artist Harrison

"Each locale has unique sounds—sharing these promotes and celebrates cultural conversations," shares Mayo. This project is made possible through the support of the Kansas Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. The April 26 performance is sponsored by Larry & Linda Hahn, and the May 19 performance is sponsored by The Trust Company of Kansas.

Tickets for all performances are $10 and may be purchased online at southkansassymphony.org or at the Box Office the day of the performance. Children under 12 years of age are free with an adult, and Southwestern College, Cowley College, and all PreK-12 students, staff, and faculty may attend for free with their school ID. 

Members of the symphony include Southwestern College and Cowley College students and alumni, community members, and high school students. They represent Winfield, Arkansas City, and surrounding communities like Belle Plaine, Derby, Dexter, Wellington, and Wichita.

Visit southkansassymphony.org to learn more or to purchase advance tickets. Information is also available on the symphony’s Facebook page.