Never one to rest on past accomplishments, Chris Thile is forging ahead into new territory once again.
This coming Sunday, July 19, Thile will perform as a soloist with the World Youth Symphony Orchestra, in Interlochen, Michigan. They will be performing a concerto he composed, for mandolin but with complete orchestration.
Thile views this performance more as a preview rather than a premier, as he intends to modify the composition based on his assessment of this weekend’s performance. The piece will be officially premiered this September by the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.
His concerto is in three movements, but fans of Thile’s improvisational efforts have no need to worry. The piece contains a improvised mandolin cadenza near the end.
“I don’t know whether I have any business writing for orchestra. I hope I do, because I love it.”
The Interlochen performance will be the first time he’ll hear the piece played by an orchestra, and the first time many in the audience will hear him play anything other than bluegrass.
“It could sound atonal to someone who knows me through Nickel Creek,” he said. “It’s ridiculously more adventurous than that.”
The full story, along with ticket information, can be found here.
Here’s a video of Chris talking about his interest in classical music.
