Professor contributes to premiere on 'Live From Lincoln Center'

September 17, 2010

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The American premiere of “Swing Symphony (Symphony No. 3),” a collaborative project of University of Florida digital arts and sciences professor James Oliverio and Grammy Award-winning musician Wynton Marsalis, will be broadcast nationally Wednesday as a part of the New York Philharmonic’s Opening Night Gala Celebration.

“Swing Symphony,” Marsalis’ latest work which had its world premiere in Berlin this summer, will be performed on “Live From Lincoln Center” at 9 p.m. on WUFT-TV Channel 5.

Oliverio, also director of the Digital Worlds Institute at UF, was heavily involved in the orchestral preparations and rehearsal notes for the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra’s performances of “Swing Symphony” in June.

According to Oliverio, the performances in Berlin, considered by many to be the epicenter of European classical music, were received with standing ovations. Credited as Marsalis’ orchestral consultant for “Swing Symphony,” Oliverio also wrote the program notes for the New York Philharmonic premiere.

Oliverio has previously collaborated with Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center band on other large-scale projects. He holds five Emmy Awards from the Atlanta chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, along with numerous national grants and commissions. His work in internationally distributed performing and digital arts has been featured on CNN International and the BBC.

In addition to performances of his orchestral scores by ensembles including the Cleveland Orchestra and the symphonies of Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Oliverio has produced for and collaborated with Jazz at Lincoln Center, the New York Philharmonic, the New York City Ballet and the Film Society of Lincoln Center.