MIT Wind Ensemble - Illusions and Dreams

featuring the premiere of Ziporyn’s “1991" for B.S.O. violist Danny Kim

Illusions and Dreams—featuring the premiere of Ziporyn’s “1991" for B.S.O. violist Danny Kim

MIT Wind Ensemble Frederick Harris, Jr.,

Music DirectorKenneth Amis, Assistant Conductor

Evan Ziporyn, composer-clarinetist

Danny Kim, violist

Saturday, March 14, 2026

8:00 P.M. Thomas Tull Concert Hall

Inspired by his experiences travels in Eastern Europe in tumultuous times’ (or ‘uncertain times’ maybe is more apt), this unique program features the world premiere of Evan Ziporyn’s 1991 for solo viola and wind ensemble. Composed for the gifted violist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Danny Kim, 1991 is Ziporyn's response to the global transformation he experienced 35 years ago and to the uncertainty and change in our current political environment. Bernstein’s Overture to Candide, Ives’ Variations on America, Copland’s Down a Country Lane and Variations on a Shaker Melody from Appalachian Spring, Schuman’s When Jesus Wept, and chamber works round out this special concert of exciting and probing music.

Composer/conductor/clarinetist Evan Ziporyn's music has taken him from Balinese temples to concert halls around the world. He has composed for and collaborated with Yo-Yo Ma, Brooklyn Rider, Maya Beiser, Ethel, Anna Sofie Von Otter, the American Composers Orchestra, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Iva Bittova, Terry Riley, Don Byron, Wu Man, and Bang on a Can. In 2017, his arrangements were featured on Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s The Vietnam War, and on Silkroad’s Grammy-winning album Sing Me Home.

Most recently, his orchestral reimagining of David Bowie's final album, Blackstar, was recently released on Islandia Music, featuring Ziporyn conducting his own Ambient Orchestra with Maya Beiser, cello soloist. Since its 2017 premiere, Ziporyn has conducted the work in Boston, Barcelona, New York Central Park Summerstage, Australia's Adelaide Fringe Festival, Strathmore Hall, and numerous other national and international venues.

Learn more about Evan Ziporyn

Violist Danny Kim joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra at the start of the 2016-2017 season and was appointed third chair of the viola section during the 2017-18 season. A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Kim completed his undergraduate degree at University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he studied with Sally Chisholm and graduated with a B.A. in viola performance and a certificate in East Asian Studies. He earned his Master of Music in viola performance from the Juilliard School under the tutelage of Samuel Rhodes. Prior to winning a position with the Boston Symphony, Kim was a member of Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect. An alumnus of the Tanglewood Music Center, where he won the Maurice Schwartz Prize, he has participated in such festivals as the Marlboro Music Festival, Pacific Music Festival, Lucerne, Aspen, and has toured with Musicians from Marlboro. As an avid chamber musician, he has performed with the Boston Symphony Chamber Players, Ensemble Connect, Chamber Music Society of Minnesota, Concordia Chamber Players, and has collaborated with artists including Joseph Silverstein, Peter Wiley, Arnold Steinhardt, Michael Tree, Marcy Rosen, Richard O’Neill among others.

Learn more about Danny Kim

Seating Policy

Your registration through Eventbrite guarantees you a seat until 15 minutes before the event start time. 15 minutes before the concert start time, we will release open seats to the standby list. If you were not able to register through Eventbrite, you may join the physical standby line in the Thomas Tull Concert Hall Lobby up to one hour before the concert start time.

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