By Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk
Grand Rapids Symphony
Trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard, a multiple Grammy winner, won the 2019 Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition for his work titled “Blood and Soil.” A longtime collaborator with film director Spike Lee, Blanchard was nominated for the 2019 Oscar for Best Original Score for “BlacKkKlansman,” and his score for director Kasi Lemmons’ 2019 film “Harriet,” which is still playing in theaters. And that’s only what he’s been up to recently.
Blanchard is the special guest artist for the Grand Rapids Symphony’s 19th annual Symphony with Soul at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, in DeVos Performance Hall.
He’ll perform music from “Malcom X,” “BlacKkKlansman” and other films. Blanchard and his band, The E-Collective, will be joined by vocalist Quiana Lynell, winner of the 2017 International Sarah Vaughan Vocal Jazz Competition. The concert also features the gospel voices of theGrand Rapids Symphony Community Chorus under the direction of Duane Davis.
Tickets for Symphony with Soul start at $18 and are available at the Grand Rapids Symphony box office, weekdays 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 100, (located across the street from Calder Plaza). Call (616) 454-9451 x 4 to order by phone. (Phone orders will be charged a $3 per ticket service fee, with an $18 maximum).
Tickets are available at the DeVos Place ticket office, weekdays 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., or on the day of the concert beginning two hours before the performance. Tickets may be purchased online at GRSymphony.org.
Full-time students of any age are able to purchase tickets for only $5 on the day of the concert by enrolling in the GRS Student Ticket program.