Jeff's Tour

Press Release

Jeff Midkiff to Premier New Mandolin Composition in March

Multi-genre mandolin virtuoso Jeff Midkiff has composed a unique solo for mandolin and symphonic band entitled Rhapsody. The piece will receive its premier performances with the Concordia University Chicago Wind Symphony on the group's spring tour, with Midkiff as mandolin soloist. Rhapsody was commissioned by Concordia University Chicago.

With Rhapsody, Midkiff once again stretches the boundaries of the mandolin tradition without straying too far from its roots. Coming on the heels of Midkiff's acclaimed CD, Partners In Time, which deftly explores the jazz, bluegrass and classical mandolin landscapes, Rhapsody is more seriously classical with contrasting textures of darkness and light, with a cadenza that branches out into jazz and bluegrass influences more commonly associated with Midkiff's output.

Midkiff will also be featured on the tour as clarinet soloist performing Adagio-Tarantella for Clarinet by Ernesto Cavallini.

The Concordia University Wind Symphony tour is March 2-10, with stops in suburban Cleveland, Ohio, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, and Richmond, Va. The tour ends at Concordia University in suburban Chicago on March 16.