America’s premier reed quintet kicks off 2019-20 Lyceum Series at MSU

Akropolis Reed Quintet is performing Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. as part of MSU’s 2019-20 Lyceum Series. (Photo submitted/by Gary Norman)

Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Seven-time national prize-winning Akropolis Reed Quintet will kick off the upcoming season of ��Ƶ’s Lyceum Series.

Performing Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. in Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium, the quintet has been hailed by Fanfare Magazine for its “imagination, infallible musicality and huge vitality.” Doors open approximately 30 minutes before the curtain rises on all shows scheduled for the 2019-20 Lyceum Series, the university’s long-running performing arts program.

Founded in 2009 at the University of Michigan, Akropolis has won the 2014 Fischoff Gold Medal and the 2015 Fischoff Educator Award, among other honors.

The quintet is an alumnus of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals’ prestigious Young Performer’s Career Advancement Program and has received grants from such organizations as the National Endowment for the Arts, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, and Chamber Music America.

Akropolis has recorded 17 original reed quintet works and released three studio albums, including “The Space Between Us,” which was called “pure gold” by the San Francisco Chronicle. For more, .

Lyceum organizers are offering traditional season-ticket packages. A mini-series ticket option also is available and features guaranteed reserved seating at a discounted rate. Mini-series purchases include attendance to three programs.

For ongoing Lyceum patrons, June 3-21 are the season ticket renewal dates, while June 24-July 19 are dates for new purchases of complete season packets. Mini-series tickets will be on sale July 22-Aug. 16; individual tickets, Aug. 19.

General public season tickets are $150 per person; $135 for MSU employees and senior citizens. Mini-series tickets are available to the general public for $75 and $65 for MSU employees and senior citizens.

Individual tickets are available for the general public at $30 for adults; $25 for MSU employees and senior citizens; $10 for children age 3-12 or with school I.D./uniform; and free for MSU students with valid student I.D. Purchases can be made online at . If available, individual tickets may be purchased at the door before each program.

Taking place at 7 p.m. in Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium, additional Lyceum events include:

—Oct. 15, “The Hot Club of San Francisco” ensemble featuring accomplished and versatile musicians celebrating the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli’s pioneering “Quintette du Hot Club de France.” The HCSF borrows the instrumentation of violin, bass, and guitars from the original Hot Club while breathing new life into the music with innovative arrangements of classic tunes and original compositions from the group’s superb lead guitarist, Paul Mehling. Featuring the violin of Grammy Award-winning Evan Price, the group also includes the velvet vocals of Isabelle Fontaine and a swinging rhythm section. For more, visit .

—Oct. 27, “Taj Express: A Bollywood Musical Revue” capturing the expressive spirit of the world of Bollywood movies through a fusion of film, dance and live music. Taking audiences on a live cinematic journey through modern Indian culture and society, the high-energy production celebrates new India’s pop music, Bollywood culture and deep traditions featuring colorful costumes. Vaibhavi Merchant has been the choreography director for more than 75 Bollywood films and received numerous awards for her work. Shruti Merchant, director and producer, is also among the industry’s top choreographers and has served as a judge on India’s leading dance reality show “Dance India Dance.” For more, visit .

—Jan. 23, “Voctave,” an 11-member a cappella group from the Central Florida area. Formed in the winter of 2015, the singers represent diverse backgrounds, from Walt Disney World entertainment, gospel music and musical theater to contemporary Christian, barbershop and pop music. With multiple No. 1 songs and albums on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify, Voctave has ranked in the top 25 on Billboard Magazine’s charts. Between Facebook and YouTube, the group has received more than 100 million video views and currently has four albums that are digitally available on all platforms. For more, visit .

—Feb. 25, “Artrageous!” troupe of artists, musicians, singers and dancers whose performance pays tribute to a variety of art forms, pop icons and music genres and culminates in a gallery of finished paintings. The group of friends began as street theatre performers in Vancouver and started the nonprofit “All and Everything Theater,” focused on children’s entertainment, street theatre and life-sized Bunraku puppetry. For more, visit .

—March 30, Aquila Theatre presents “The Odyssey,” an epic tale of one man’s decade-long struggle to return home. One of the most famous tales in world literature, Homer’s “The Odyssey” remains an influential portrait of Odysseus’ monumental journey fraught with obstacles, dangers and temptations. Originally performed by highly skilled bards across the ancient Mediterranean world, this timeless poem will come to life with Aquila Theatre’s new dramatic adaptation. For more, visit .

In addition to six primary performances, the Lyceum schedule includes shows presented by MSU’s jazz, symphonic, community, and Maroon and White concert bands, as well as the Wind Ensemble. Details on these performances can be found online at or by phone at 662-325-2713.

For additional MSU Lyceum Series information, contact the Center for Student Activities at 662-325-2930, visit or email lyceum@msstate.edu. Contributions to the Lyceum Series can be made via the MSU Foundation by contacting Lynn Durr at 662-325-8918.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at .

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