Blog

What do the Bad Plus, Luciana Souza Trio, and the Schubert Piano Trios have in common? They are a trio of trios coming to Ann Arbor in February, but that’s where the similarities end. While one of these trios plays the chamber music of 19th-century composer Franz Schubert, the other two might be classified as jazz trios. Yet, neither fits traditional notions of a jazz trio. In this blog post I set out to explore “the art of the trio.” Specifically, I set out to ask: what makes a great jazz trio?

The UMS LOBBY is all about having great conversations with other people who enjoy the performing arts. As we get to know each other through comments and conversation on www.umsLOBBY.org, we’ll also have the chance to meet face-to-face in a series of meet-ups over the remainder of the 09/10 season.

Soprano legend Kiri Te Kanawa and U-M Professor of Piano Martin Katz gave a recital of Handel, Mozart, R. Strauss, and arrangements of folk songs by Canteloube and Gamley.

When the jazz trio The Bad Plus arrived in Ann Arbor last week for their two-set show at the Mendelssohn Theatre, we gave them a Flip Cam and asked them to shoot…

As UMS plans these Global Series, we are able to make new community connections, and have the pleasure of getting to know new parts of Southeastern Michigan. This is especially true in the Detroit area, where we continue to explore new neighborhoods, working with leaders to determine how UMS can make meaningful contributions to community life.

When asked to write this blog, I have to admit, I was more than a little anxious. I was stoked but I couldn’t shake the unnerving feeling about doing something way outside the job description. I was handed the opportunity to leave my usual post in the UMS Ticket Office to work closer than I ever have with our artists. I was to follow the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company during their educational residency with UMS.

Artists presented by UMS had a great showing at the Grammy Awards on Sunday night…

Exciting news! After dreaming for years of digitizing the UMS archive, this massive project is finally underway! UMS has teamed up with the Ann Arbor District Library to digitize the UMS archive in all of its many forms: programs, photos, publications, and more.

Anton Chekhov’s was born January 29, 1860. UMS is celebrating his sesquicentennial in March…