Guest Artist Residency Fund
The MSO Guest Artist Residency program was started by conductor Debra Lynn to bring national and international musicians to Manchester University for annual week-long residencies. Guest artists offer outreach to the wider community through public visits, master classes, and recital performances in addition to their spotlight performance with the symphony. Guest artists raise the bar of excellence, challenge and engage our musicians, and connect our community with the wider world.
Cost varies for each residency based on travel expenses, lodging, meals, and other artist-specific factors, but the average cost is $8,000. The Guest Artist Residency Fund is a separate giving opportunity from other giving levels mentioned here. The minimum donation level is $1,000.00, and includes mention in the season program and an exclusive invitation to the guest artist’s dress rehearsal with the orchestra and Gala Soirée. Donors to this fund will also receive two complimentary tickets to the MSO concert featuring the guest artist. To help support this program, you can find our donation page or click here.
This season's guest artist: Dr. Jerry Westenkuehler, Organist, will be featured on our March 10, 2024, concert where he will perform the first movement of Handel’s Organ Concerto No. 4 and Poulenc’s Organ Concerto. Jerry hails from Fort Worth, Texas, and has performed throughout the United States, as well as Taiwan, Singapore, England, and Scotland. He currently serves Arborlawn United Methodist Church as organist and director of instrumental music. Jerry teaches organ at Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary. As a composer of organ and handbell pieces, his works have been published by MorningStar Music Publishing, Warner Bros., Shawnee Press, Broadman Press, and Alfred Publishing.
Past Residency Program Guest Artists
Jon Silpayamanant (2022-2023)
Born in Udon Thani, Thailand, Jon Silpayamanant is an intercultural multi-instrumentalist, composer, researcher, and music educator based in the greater Louisville and Kentuckiana area.
The Manchester Symphony Orchestra performed two of his pieces, From Dream till Dusk and Homrong Isaan, which incorporated themes, styles, and techniques from his Thai heritage.
Derek Reeves (2021-2022)
Born in Okinawa, Japan, Derek Reeves is an accomplished performer, recitalist, recording studio musician, and arranger, and the current principal violist of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and the Freimann Quartet
During his residency, Mr. Reeves performed the world premiere of Spaces, a five-movement concerto composed by MSO conductor Debra Lynn specifically for him.
Nathan Granner & Jamie Chamberlin (2020-2021)
The married operatic duo of Jamie Chamberlin (soprano) and Nathan Granner (tenor) from LA Opera brought cultural diversity to the Cordier Auditorium stage with the world premiere orchestral arrangement of Trinidad composer Dominique Le Gendre’s Songs of the Islands.
Rounding out the soloist trio was Meagan Pollonais, mezzo-soprano from Trinidad and Tobago and recent Doctorate graduate from Ball State University.
Stewart Copeland & Kathleen Belcher (2019-2020)
Our inaugural guest artist residents were Stewart Copeland, founder and drummer of The Police, and Kathleen Smith Belcher, member of the Metropolitan Opera directing staff.
Together with the Manchester Symphony Orchestra, Manchester University Department of Music, and area vocalists, they staged the collegiate premiere of Copeland’s The Invention of Morel, a sci-fi romantic black comedy between two people located on the same island, yet separated by forty years.