LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 22, 2026) — The University of Kentucky Wind Symphony is set to host the Corfu Festival on Sunday, April 26, at 3 p.m. This concert will highlight the excitement of global collaborations and modern wind band music in the Singletary Center for the Arts Concert Hall.
Guest conductor Sokratis Anthis, a professor at Ionian University in Corfu, Greece, will lead the performance. His visit is part of an ongoing partnership between the UK School of Music and Ionian University, enhancing artistic connections between the two institutions. Anthis is also a featured Yamaha Artist and previously engaged with UK students in a trumpet master class during his visit in Spring 2024.
In a cultural exchange effort, Anthis has been collaborating with Jason Dovel, a trumpet professor at UK, since 2023. Together, they host the Corfu Trumpet Festival, a creative program that unites American and Greek students through performances and master classes. UK students will once again visit Corfu this summer, with additional direction from Cody Birdwell.
The Corfu Festival concert features an exciting mix of pieces. Attendees can expect classics like Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to “Candide” and Percy Grainger’s “Children’s March: Over the Hills and Far Away.” The lineup also includes James M. Stephenson’s Symphony No. 2, titled “Voices,” along with two original works by Dovel that celebrate the island: “Corfiot Sea Scenes” and “A Corfu Festival.”
Tickets are affordable, priced at $14 for adults and $7 for students. They can be secured via Etix.com (note that online fees may apply). UK students can get one free ticket with a valid student ID at the SCFA Ticket Office. For more details, check out this link.
In recent years, studies have shown growing interest in cultural exchanges in music education. According to a report from the National Association for Music Education, about 85% of students believe that international collaborations enhance their learning experience. Such events not only enrich the participants but also foster global appreciation for diverse musical traditions.
