Grammy winner Leslie Odom Jr. will perform at 6 p.m. Feb. 15 at the IU Auditorium, accompanied by the IU Philharmonic Orchestra. The one-night-only performance is sold out.
An hour before the start of the event, there will be a pre-show talk led by Tichina Vaughn, an associate professor of music in voice at IU and a professional opera singer. Vaughn said the talk will explore the history of Black music and Black performing artists while also focusing on spirituals, blues, jazz, R&B, musical theater and pop music, all of which Odom sings.
“It is not every artist that, you know, can not only thrive in all those genres, but be so celebrated all at once,” Vaughn said. “Which is really, if you ask me, that’s what we mean when we say, if I tie it all together, Black excellence in Black music.”
Odom first rose to fame for his portrayal of Aaron Burr in the 2015 musical “Hamilton,” for which he won a Tony award for best actor in a musical and a Grammy for being a principal soloist on the original cast recording. Since his initial success, Odom has continued to expand his career by appearing in films such as “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” shows including “Central Park” and releasing six full-length albums.
For this singular performance at IU, Odom will be joined by the IU Philharmonic Orchestra, which is composed of students from the Jacobs School of Music.
Priyanka Gohal, a second year master’s harp student who will be playing in the orchestra, said she was ecstatic when she found out she would have the opportunity to perform alongside Odom.
“It is so exciting for me because I spent a lot of time in high school listening to the ‘Hamilton’ soundtrack, so for me, I always know him as Aaron Burr,” Gohal said. “So it’s kind of surreal and just so exciting to be a part of this project.”
Kenneth Naito, a graduate student pursuing an artist diploma at the Jacobs School of Music, will be playing violin in the orchestra.
He said students are given their roles two weeks before the performance and start in-person rehearsals just five days before the show. He said it is imperative that performers are prepared and confident by the time Odom joins them Sunday so they can provide a good show for everyone.
“We’re basically the foundation and our job is to give Leslie Odom a foundation for him to glide and, you know, provide his incredible talent,” Naito said.
Armón Brooks, a second-year master’s student studying percussion and performing in the show, said the musical theater and pop music being played in this concert is different from what he usually plays in orchestra.
This change in sound has prompted him to adjust and learn how to play less structured music.
“I have to learn how to be flexible and especially in comparison to, say, a piece like, I don’t know, ‘Mahler No. 1,’ everything is structured, I know when to come in, when not to come in,” Brooks said. “Well with something like this, there’s a bit more laxness to the piece, or to the music, that’s happening. So just learning to stay on my toes and listen to what’s happening around me.”
Naito said having this live communication between the orchestra and the singer is part of what makes a concert like this come to life.
Gohal said the addition of an orchestra can add magic to the songs audience members may be previously familiar with.
“We’re so used to hearing these songs probably, like, on our phone or through Spotify,” Gohal said. “So then seeing it live, as well, like, with the musicians and the singer, I think it adds this, like, vibe of magic, which is really fun.”
Naito likened the addition of the live orchestra to a cinematic experience, saying that it's just as exciting s going to see a movie or watching a live sporting event.
Brooks said the music can add a level of connection between the audience and the performers.
“I think in a way the orchestra can make the music feel more personal,” Brooks said. “Because within musicals you often don’t see the musicians. But with an orchestra, you see everyone on stage and so it feels like an invitation to enjoy the music with us instead of just ‘here’s what the music is.’”
Naito said that this connection is a big reason people are drawn to the arts, and why people make art in response.
“I think there is something to be said about people making art and making music that can not only bring everyone together, but to inspire,” Naito said. “The reason we played music is because we want to be able to inspire and really provoke empathy, I think, within people. Provoke these emotions of, you know, laughter, sadness, happiness, joy. All these emotions we want to bring out of audiences because if you could change one person, you know, make them cry, that’s already a powerful thing that we could do as musicians.”
Classical music has had decreased rates of attendance for many years due to the rise in pop music and shifts in culture. However, shows like this prove there is still a space for orchestral music.
Naito said he’s never seen a show at the Jacobs School of Music sell out like the Leslie Odom Jr. concert did, which has made it a very exciting and prominent show for the performers.
“I think all of us in the ‘Phil’ know that this concert is going to be completely sold out, I mean it is completely sold out, which is very exciting for us because we do live in an unfortunate reality where this is not always the case with our concerts here at Jacobs,” Naito said. “I really do hope that with this concert, because it’s sold out, people will realize just how incredible everybody in the orchestra is and how much dedication is involved in the craft.”
