NWI Symphony plan musical salutes to movies, the 1970s in 2022
Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra Conductor Kirk Muspratt likes to kid his concert audiences that even before the pandemic, he was “already a fan of masking.”
During his two decades behind the baton leading musicians in northwest Indiana, Muspratt earned a reputation as “the man behind the mask” for donning elaborate costumes during annual Halloween concerts.
To date, Muspratt has stepped on stage in the guises of a Viking, a robot, a pirate and even a member of the rock band KISS. Last October, he dressed in a ruffled gown and towering headdress in homage to the late Brazilian entertainer Carmen Miranda for the annual Halloween concert for his other musical assignment as the conductor and artistic director for New Philharmonic Orchestra in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
“Music and orchestra concerts should be fun and entertaining, as well as making sure the audiences leave having learned something,” Muspratt said.
“I was masking long before anyone was masking because of this pandemic.”
Muspratt and the full 70-member
NWI Symphony Orchestra started the 2021-22 season with three December holiday pops concerts presented in the orchestra’s new performance home at the auditorium at Living Hope Church in Merrillville.
To celebrate Muspratt’s 20 years in northwest Indiana and the NWI Symphony’s 80th anniversary, a special dual birthday celebration event was announced in January and will raise money to support future programming.
The preconcert party begins at 4:30 p.m. March 4 at Gamba Ristorante, 455 E. 84th Drive in Merrillville, prior to the March 4 “Rach and Blue” concert. There is also a March 3 concert date, with both performances at Living Hope Church in Merrillville. The $125 party ticket price does not include the concert admission ticket.
NWI Symphony Marketing Coordinator Tammie Miller said the party event is intended to salute Muspratt and rekindle 20 years of his favorite musical moments and entertaining escapades of audience interaction on stage and off.
“The party includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, desserts and an open bar for guests with the dress code being a dressy casual for the evening celebration,”
Miller said.
“Kirk has earned a reputation for being full of surprises, and his annual Halloween concert costume reveal has remained a favorite past tradition.”
Miller said another reason Muspratt is popular with concert audiences is because of his interaction during performances and willingness to share his concert knowledge.
At every concert, Muspratt leads a question-and-answer session with the audience called “Just Ask Kirk!” composed of his fielding of questions posed from submitted cards gathered from the ticket holders prior to the performance.
Muspratt said he is expecting some movie questions for the late spring
May 5 and 6 performances of favorite cinema soundtrack tunes. In the spotlight will be famed compositions used in movies such as pieces from Handel, Wagner, and Tchaikovsky contrasted with the big screen epic overlays from John Williams, Disney’s Alan Menken and superhero film troubadour Alan Silvestri highlighting movies like “Black Swan,” “Die Hard,” “Independence Day,” “Beauty and The Beast” and “Captain America.”
The main stage concert season concludes June 16 and 17 with “Iconic Hits of the ’70s” starring vocalists Aj Swearingen and Jayne Kelli backed by the full orchestra to showcase the songs of Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Carole King, Jim Croce and Gordon Lightfoot, among others.
“This season is a shared celebration of sorts for the overlapping musical milestones of both the NWI Symphony Orchestra and myself,” Muspratt said.
“We are highlighting the musical dreams that have come true for all of us throughout the decades.”