“The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra has seemingly created a trifecta of musical marvels that magically brought together an artist, a composer, and a patron,” writes Diana Skinner in Tuesday’s (9/7) Violinist. “Dubbed the KSO1x1 Project, a donor was asked to commission a composer to write a short solo piece for a specific KSO musician. A total of 24 pieces [by 25 composers] were commissioned and digitally premiered weekly between February and August 2021. Composers were found not only in KSO’s own backyard, but also from Belgium, Tanzania, and other locales…. In a truly wonderful touch, the sponsor got to attend the work’s premiere at the recording session and received a score autographed by the composer. KSO Music Director Aram Demirjian said the project started ‘as a creative way to feature the individual talents within our orchestra, and then sparked enthusiasm among our musicians, supporters, and followers beyond anything we could have imagined.’ … The project yielded a piece for nearly every instrument in the orchestra, stemming from composers representing a wide range of backgrounds, musical styles, and years of experience, including … composer/bassist John Clayton, pianist/NPR personality Lara Downes, and … East Tennessee’s own Jennifer Higdon.” A complete playlist with videos is at the Knoxville Symphony’s website: https://knoxvillesymphony.com/tickets-calendar/ondemand-concerts/.
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