Press Release

NORTH MANCHESTER — The Manchester Symphony Orchestra will present “Around the World in 80 Minutes” at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 16, in Cordier Auditorium on the North Manchester campus.

The orchestra, under the direction of Manchester Professor Debra Lynn, will present the world premiere of “Songs of the Islands” orchestrations by Dominique Le Gendre and Lynn.

The Caribbean song cycle features Maegan Pollonais, mezzo-soprano, as well as guest artists-in-residence operatic soprano Jamie Chamberlin and tenor Nathan Granner.

The guest artists were brought from Los Angeles to Manchester through a designated donation fund started by the symphony orchestra at the beginning of the year. The program is also made possible by a grant from the Community Foundation of Wabash County.

Manchester University’s Chamber Singers will also perform on this song cycle.

The concert will include “Variations on America” by Charles Ives, “Hungarian Dances” by Johannes Brahms, “Bachianas Brasileiras No. 2” by Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos, “Entrance of the Queen of Sheba” by George Frideric Handel, and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” arranged by Margaret Bonds.

A pre-concert talk about “Songs of the Islands” will be presented at 2:30 p.m. in Wine Recital Hall by Pollonais, who is director of student diversity and inclusion at Manchester.

General admission is $15 but is free for Manchester students, faculty, staff and all attendees younger than 18. Masks and social distancing are required at all times for audience members.

This is Lynn’s first season as symphony conductor.

Magical Melodies Concert Features LA Operatic Soprano, Tenor

The Manchester Symphony Orchestra and Manchester University Department of Music will present “Magical Melodies” at 7 p.m. Friday, May 14, at the Manchester Junior-Senior High School Performing Arts Center.

The concert includes songs and arias and features operatic guest artists-in-residence Jamie Chamberlain, soprano; and Nathan Granner, tenor. They come to Manchester from Los Angeles and Long Beach opera companies.

They will be assisted by MU Assistant Professor of Music Pamela Haynes on piano.

Admission is free. Masks and social distancing are required at all times.