Many know author Dan Brown for his chart-topping novels like “The DaVinci Code”but are unaware of his deep knowledge and early love for music. That passion will be revealed when the Lone Star Wind Orchestra (LSWO) presents “Wild Symphony,”a unique multimedia musical experience based on the children’s book and large-scale musical written by Brown. Under the direction of LSWO music director Eugene Migliaro Corporon, the family-friendly concert will be performed Sunday, April 7, at 3 p.m. at Moody Performance Hall in the Dallas Arts District (2520 Flora St., 75201).
Featuring nearly two dozen musical portraits drawn from the animal kingdom, the Lone Star Wind Orchestra will take guests on an amazing, narrated journey led by Maestro Mouse. From the joyous rhythms of “Bouncing Kangaroo” to the mysterious melodies of “Wondrous Whale” and the hair-raising harmonies of “Brilliant Bat,” the vibrant movements of “Wild Symphony” correspond to an animal featured in the picture book. Each animal has a special message to deliver – from the need for kindness, to rest, to play and learn, and more.
“Wild Symphony” reveals Brown as a lifelong musician and composer who counts himself among those inspired at a young age by “Peter and the Wolf,” “The Carnival of the Animals” and “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.”
“Music has always been a part of my life, and some of my earliest and most cherished memories include taking classical piano lessons from my mother, singing in choirs, and attending live orchestral concerts,” said Brown. “My intent with ‘Wild Symphony’ is to provide a fun, fresh opportunity for families, parents, children, and people of all ages to reconnect with the magical experience of live classical music.”
Joining as narrator for “Wild Symphony” is WRR Classical 101.1 FM’s Midday Music host Amy Bishop. She is a regular contributor to Arts and Culture Texas Magazine and an ardent advocate for supporting arts and cultural organizations.
Translated for more than 20 countries worldwide, Brown’s best-selling book launched in 2020 to glowing reviews, with Kirkus Reviews describing it as “whimsically engaging.” The School Library Journal’s starred review called it “a delightful musical debut.”
The full symphonic version of the symphony was premiered by Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra of Croatia and has since been performance across the world.
The Wild Symphony is a perfect fit for the Lone Star Wind Orchestra, whose mission is to use music to change lives in North Texas and beyond through inspired collaborations, exceptional mentoring of musicians, unforgettable performances and inclusive community engagement.
“Dan Brown's ‘Wild Symphony’ is a delightful combination of storytelling and music that depicts the imagined characters of various animals found in his book in sound,” said Maestro Corporon. “It is an audio-visual tour de force that will be of particular interest to children who like to have their caretakers read to them or are beginning to read themselves. The piece is both clever and humorous and promises to be a joyful family experience that's not to be missed.”
LSWO is heavily involved with year-round youth outreach. They operate the Lone Star Youth Winds, the St. Philip’s Percussion Ensemble, an after-school program where children in southern Dallas explore music and technique through the lens of the African Diaspora, and Lone Star Kids, which bring students face to face and behind the scenes with top musicians, composers and conductors.
Ticket and other details
Tickets to “Wild Symphony”, which start at $20 for adults and are $10 for students and seniors, may be purchased at lswo.com or at the door the day of the event.
The Lone Star Wind Orchestra is supported by the City of Richardson, Moody Fund for the Arts, City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture, Texas Commission on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and TACA. For more information, go to lswo.com.
ABOUT AUTHOR DAN BROWN
Dan Brown is the author of numerous #1 bestselling novels, including The Da Vinci Code, which has become one of the best-selling novels of all time, as well as the subject of intellectual debate among readers and scholars. Brown’s novels are published in 56 languages around the world with over 200 million copies in print. In 2005, Brown was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by TIME Magazine. The son of a mathematics teacher and a church organist, Brown was raised on a prep school campus where he developed a fascination with the paradoxical interplay between science and religion.
ABOUT THE LONE STAR WIND ORCHESTRA
The Lone Star Wind Orchestra is a non-profit arts organization founded in 2006 as a creative collaboration to further the wind orchestra as an artistic medium. The group’s mission is “music changing lives in North Texas and beyond through inspired collaborations, exceptional mentoring of musicians, unforgettable performances, and inclusive community engagement.” The nonprofit also operates the Lone Star Youth Winds, made up of 60 of the most outstanding woodwind, brass and percussion players in grades 9-12, selected from across North Texas. The Lone Star Wind Orchestra’s education and outreach programs include the St. Philip’s Percussion Ensemble, an after-school program where children in southern Dallas explore music and technique through the lens of the African Diaspora, and Lone Star Kids, which bring students face to face and behind the scenes with top musicians, composers and conductors. In response to COVID-19, Lone Star Conversations was created to give young people virtual access to leading composers and conductors. Learn more at lswo.com.