Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Signs Another Three-Year Exclusive Agreement with Disney to Bring Three Iconic STAR WARS MOVIES to its Community

    KALAMAZOO, MI, April 12, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra is proud to announce that it has signed another three-year agreement with Disney to be the exclusive presenter in Southwest Michigan of live symphonic performances of three 'Star Wars' movies, featuring scores by John Williams. The new agreement is in addition to its existing multiyear alliances with Disney (signed in 2015) and Films Concert Live (signed in 2017). These 'Special Event' performances will begin in the KSO's 2017-18 season with Star Wars - Episode IV - A New Hope, performed twice on October 12 & 13, 2017. It will be the 40th anniversary of the original release of the movie in 1977. Star Wars - Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back will appear during the 2018-2019 concert season and in the 2019-2020 concert season the KSO will be performing Star Wars - Episode VI - Return of the Jedi. Dates for those performances will be released at a later time.

"We are extremely thrilled to have landed this exclusive agreement," said Peter H. Gistelinck, President & CEO of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. "Our new three-year agreement with Disney means a lot and it will be an additional treat for audiences in the Kalamazoo community to discover the original Star Wars trilogy and the KSO in a completely different way."

Jonathan Heely, Director Music Publishing & Disney Concerts, said, "We truly look forward to this additional relationship with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, which we expect will carry on for many years to come."

Daniel Brier, Resident Conductor of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, said, "This is an amazing artistic opportunity and our orchestra can't wait to start the rehearsals for what promises to be unique, multidimensional concert experiences of these three iconic Star Wars movies."

Visit www.kalamazoosymphony.com for up-to-date information, details and schedules. Prices, artists, dates, time and program are subject to change without notice.

The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra receives major support from the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra also receives generous support from other local, state and national foundations, as well as private and corporate support. For more information, visit www.kalamazoosymphony.com.

Founded in 1921, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra is Southwest Michigan's premier musical organization, providing musical enrichment to over 80,000 adults and youth per year. The third-largest professional orchestra in the state, the KSO has won numerous awards and grants, including the Met Life Award for Arts Access in Underserved Communities, the National Endowment for the Arts for its extensive education programs, and a major Ford Foundation grant to found its innovative Artist-in-Residence program.

The Star Wars -- Film Concert Series is produced under license by Disney Concerts in association with 20th Century Fox and Warner/Chappell Music.

STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. & TM Lucasfilm Ltd.

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